ENERAL  CHARD iS  KING 


CAPTURED 
The  Story  of  Sandy  Ray 


CAPTURED 

THE    STORY    OF 

SANDY  RAY 


BY   GENERAL   CHARLES   KING 


GROSSET     &     DUNLAP 
Publishers        :        New     York 


Copyright  1906 
By  BALLARD  HOBART 

Copyright  1906 
By  R.   F.   FENNO  &  COMPANY 


CAPTURED 

The  Story  of  Sandy  Ray 


M12561 


LIEUTENANT  SANDY  RAY 


CHAPTEK  I. 

THE  latest  arrival  at  the  post  stood  by  the  broad 
open  doorway,  within  sound  of  the  thunder — almost 
within  touch  of  the  salt  spray — of  the  long  rollers  that 
broke  in  white,  hissing  foam  upon  the  gleaming  sands. 
The  red  gold  disk  of  the  setting  sun  had  just  van 
ished  below  the  westward  sea.  The  smoke  of  the 
evening  gun  was  still  drifting  slowly  up  the  leafy 
heights  bordering  the  cantonment  on  the  east.  Out 
on  the  broad  level  of  the  parade  the  battalion  stood 
motionless  at  attention  as  the  beautiful  flag,  to  the 
crashing  accompaniment  of  "The  Star  Spangled  Ban 
ner,"  sank  slowly  beneath  the  cross  trees.  Fringing 
the  quadrangle  on  three  sides  long  ranks  of  dusky 
heads  were  bared  in  silent  homage,  the  men  as  a  rule 
dressed  in  ropas  of  spotless  white,  the  women  in  skirts 
of  livelier  hue.  Here  and  there  the  black  cassock  of  a 
padre  or  the  dun-colored  frocks  of  a  brace  of  shaven 
friars  broke  the  lane  of  brighter  color.  Half  way  out 
across  the  open  space,  clad  like  his  command  in 
"khaki"  with  campaign  hat  and  leggings  to  match, 

7 


8  Lieutenant  @antsg  Hap 

stood  tlie  commanding  "officer,  a  soldierly,  statuesque 
personage,  whose  arms  and  hands  close-held  and  ex 
tended — so  differed  from  the  unconstrained  American 
pose — betokened  an  earlier  training  in  some  rigid 
European  school.  Facing  him,  a  double  line  of  dust- 
hued  forms,  four  well-drilled  and  disciplined  com 
panies  of  infantry  awaited  the  last  note  of  the  na 
tional  air  and  the  command  to  open  ranks.  Back  of 
them,  some  sixty  yards  away,  gable  ends  toward  the 
parade,  the  nipa  roofs  of  the  new  barracks  stood 
sharply  against  the  dull  green  of  the  heights.  To  the 
right  of  the  fine  large  band,  whose  membership  had 
been  surreptitiously  strengthened  by  volunteer  native 
musicians,  the  tall  white  flagstaff,  a  recent  acquisition 
from  Hong  Kong  of  which  the  commanding  officer 
was  inordinately  proud,  pointed  straight  to  the  zenith 
and  looked  down  benignantly  upon  mundane  affairs. 
On  the  hither  side  of  the  quadrangle  in  front  of  post 
headquarters,  though  the  veranda  was  occupied  only 
by  a  few  enlisted  clerics  and  three  or  four  convales 
cents,  the  bordering  throng  had  left  a  wide  open  space, 
Latin  rule  having  taught  the  pliant  native  quite  as 
much  in  good  manners  as  it  had  in  bad  morals, — the 
Filipino,  be  it  noted,  having  learned  from  his  Anda- 
lusian  master  what  he  never  would  have  heard  of 
from  his  American  mentor,  such  customs  as  uncov 
ering  and  standing  attention  when  answering  or  ac 
costing  a  sentry,  and  never  presuming  to  interpose 
between  the  office  and  the  parade.  In  point  of  de- 


Lieutenant  @anBp  Hap  9 

portment,  therefore,  and  in  those  innumerable  little 
courtesies  by  which  the  well-bred  human,  whether 
white,  black  or  brown,  endeavors  to  show  considera 
tion  for  fellow  men,  it  was  a  matter  of  frequent  re 
mark  at  Camp  Boutelle  that  the  native  to  the  manner 
born,  stood  as  far  above  his  American  reformer  as,  in 
all  other  respects  according  to  the  same  authority,  he 
stood  below. 

In  point  of  fact  this  very  matter  of  good  manners 
had  been  the  source  of  discussion,  injudiciously  heated 
in  view  of  the  local  temperature,  at  tiffin  that  very 
day.  The  mess  to  a  man  was  resentful  of  certain 
innovations  "sprung"  by  the  new  presiding  officer 
thereof,  now  temporarily  in  command  of  the  entire 
post,  for  every  officer  of  field  rank  was  gone.  Only 
three  days  earlier  a  colonel  presided  over  the  cere 
mony  of  retreat  parade,  but  by  the  same  steamer  that 
landed  Lieutenant  Ray  in  their  midst,  this  high  offi 
cial  had  been  borne  away  to  Manila.  Three  days 
earlier  a  squadron  of  cavalry,  dismounted,  had  lined 
up  with  the  infantry  at  parade,  but  that  same  steamer 
had  brought  confirmation  of  a  telegraphic  order  that 
sent  the  squadron  twisting  through  long  miles  of  bam 
boo  brake  at  the  foot  of  the  range,  then  diving 
abruptly  into  a  darkened  pass,  and  so  out  into  an 
almost  unknown,  unexplored  tract  of  mountainous, 
forest-covered  country  that  stretched  away  in  lonely 
grandeur  toward  the  farther  and  far-spreading 
Pacific. 


10  Lieutenant  g>anDp 

As  matters  stood,  a  captain  of  Foot*  now  com 
manded  at  Camp  Boutelle  and  a  much  perturbed 
adjutant  of  cavalry  was  his  prophet.  Of  the  officers 
stationed  at  this  somewhat  isolated  post  as  many  as 
seven  were  blessed  with  the  presence  of  their  families 
from  the  States,  and  of  these  families,  at  the  moment 
of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Sandford  Ray,  recently  trans 
ferred  from  the  squadron  adjutancy  at  Malinta  to  the 
command  of  an  orphaned  troop  at  regimental  head 
quarters,  no  less  than  three  were  now  to  worry  along 
the  best  they  could  without  the  husband  and  father, 
for  Uncle  Sam  had  need  of  his  services  on  an  extended 
scout  toward  the  more  distant  sea.  When  Mr.  Ray 
on  reporting  had  expressed  a  wish  to  set  forth  and 
overtake  his  troop,  the  smilingly  urbane  officer  left  in 
command  replied  with  much  appreciation,  "Most 
natural  and  highly  creditable,  Mr.  Ray,  but — aw — 
equally  impossible.  The  trail  is  beset  with  ladrones 
and  you  could  not  possibly  get  through.  For  ten  days 
at  least  you'll  have  to  stay  here.  We'll  be  delighted 
to  welcome  you  at  mess,  and  we  dine — aw — right 
after  retreat  parade — aw — costume  de  riguer/' 

"What  the  mischief  does  this  portend  ?"  asked  Mr. 
Ray  of  himself,  in  lieu  of  any  other  confidant.  He 
had  served  some  years  before,  and  had  been  shot  in 
sharp  action — in  the  Philippines.  He  had  been  quite 
at  home  in  Cavite  and  Batangas  and  the  old  regiment. 
He  had  a  few  friends,  and  his  father,  himself  a 
colonel  of  cavalry  serving  in  another  department,  had 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap  11 

many,  in  this  to  which  his  old  comrade,  Colonel 
Blake,  had  been  assigned  on  promotion.  But  to  every 
officer  on  duty  with  the  battalion  of  the  Forty- Second 
Infantry  at  this  out-of-the-way  cantonment  the  lieu 
tenant  was  personally  a  stranger.  Of  him  they  had 
heard  a  good  deal  and  were  disposed  to  like  him.  Of 
them,  oddly  enough,  he  had  heard  very  little.  He  had 
looked  for  a  welcome  from  his  father's  stanch  com 
rades,  the  colonel  and  the  major  of  the  Cavalry, 
also  from  some  of  the  troop  officers  with  whom  he 
himself  had  served,  but  the  colonel  had  been  called  to 
preside  over  an  important  military  trial,  and  the 
major  and  the  squadron  sent  to  the  field.  It  had  not 
occurred  to  Mr.  Ray  to  acquire  advanced  knowledge 
as  to  the  infantry.  He  had  counted  on  being  pre 
sented  by  comrades  of  his  own  cloth. 

It  is  always  best  for  a  new-comer  to  know  some 
thing  of  the  commissioned  personnel,  likewise  of  the 
households  thereof,  lest  otherwise  he  start  with  a  pos 
sibly  wrong  set  and  be  some  time  finding  his  mistake, 
in  which  event  he  will  be  still  longer  getting  over  the 
effects.  The  first  man  to  greet  him  was  this  Captain 
Crabtree,  left  temporarily  in  command ;  the  next  one 
was  Captain  Fethers,  the  regimental  adjutant,  and 
the  third  was  Lieutenant  Blunt,  of  the  42nd,  a  West 
ern  bred  subaltern,  who  had  won  distinction  as  cap 
tain  in  a  famous  regiment  of  state  volunteers,  one  of 
the  veterans  of  the  original  army  of  occupation. 
Blunt  being  a  bachelor,  took  the  new-comer  straight 


12  Lieutenant  SanDg 

to  bis  quarters  and  there  developed  the  fact  that  his 
name  was  eminently  descriptive. 

"Lieutenant,"  said  he,  "this  is  the  best  I  have  got, 
and  it's  all  at  your  service.  You  have  been  in  the 
Islands  before  and  know  their  limitations.  Make 
yourself  at  home  until  you  can  fit  up  your  own  shack, 
or  longer  if  you  like.  I'll  send  for  your  plunder. 
Hilarious,  here,  will  give  you  a  tub,  and  your  trou 
bles  needn't  begin  until — dinner  time." 

"Why  then  ?"  asked  Mr.  Ray,  with  a  grin,  as  the 
native  boy — Hilario  as  known  in  the  mother  church, 
Hilarious  to  his  employer — deftly  relieved  him  of  his 
hand  luggage  and  sun  helmet. 

"Because  we've  got  a  blooming  Britisher  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life  in  command.  He's  boiling  over 
with  fool  notions,  and  I'm  damned  if  he  isn't  going  to 
make  us  wear  mess  jackets  and  starched  shirt  fronts 
and  patent  leathers  to  dinner.  Fact !  Why,  he's  got 
out  a  code  of  rules  and  regulations  governing  our 
doings  at  mess,  having  them  engrossed  and  framed, 
to  be  hung  up  on  the  porch,  an'  expects  every  man  to 
memorize  'em.  You've  come  just  in  time  to  join  the 
cabal." 

"Cabal?"  asked  Mr.  Ray,  vaguely,  as  he  sipped 
gratefully  at  the  glass  of  sizzling  soda — he  had  de 
clined  the  "peg" — handed  him  by  Blunt. 

"Cabal,  yes !  You  don't  suppose  we  are  going  to 
put  up  with  any  such  infernal  rot  as  this.  Major 
Forrest,  of  your  regiment,  has  been  head  of  the  mess 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag  is 

since  he  got  here — perfect  gentleman,  by  gad,  and  he 
never  thought  of  such  a  thing.  We  wore  white  or 
khaki  as  we  pleased,  and  were  happy.  Now  comes 
this  voluminous  ass  with  a  lot  of  British  ware — well, 
you  just  read  those  rules." 

And  Sandy  Kay  had  been  reading  them,  he  couldn't 
well  avoid  it,  for  with  a  low  bow  a  Filipino  mess  boy, 
in  immaculate  blouse  and  pompadour  front,  had  pre 
sented,  framed  and  glazed  a  remarkably  well  en 
grossed  pronunciamento  that  had  arrayed  the  entire 
mess  against  the  distinguished  officer  but  recently 
advanced  to  the  Chair.  "With  the  compliments  of 
the  commanding  officer,  Seiior,"  said  the  servant,  and 
mutely  Mr.  Ray  held  forth  his  hand.  "You  wish  me 
to  read  ?"  he  asked. 

"With  the  compliments  of  the  commanding  offi 
cer,"  parroted  the  attendant,  with  another  bow,  and 
Sandy  read  as  required : 

"The  attention  of  officers,  members  of  the  mess,  is  called  to 
the  following  regulations: 

''Breakfast  and  tiffin  being  entirely  informal,  will  be  served 
from  6:30  to  8:30  a.  m.  and  12  to  1:30,  respectively,  and  may 
be  partaken  of  individually,  each  oificer  selecting  the  hour  most 
convenient.  In  the  matter  of  dress  officers  will  wear  that  pre 
scribed  for  the  day's  duty.  Dinner,  however,  is  a  social  yet 
semi-official  function  [at  which  only  full  dress  or  dinner  dress 
may  be  worn.  In  extremely  hot  weather  on  the  order  of  the 
commanding  officer  a  special  signal  following  the  sound  of  mess 
call  will  indicate  that  white  uniforms  may  be  worn,  in  which 
event  no  other  dress  will  be  permitted.  Mess  call  will  sound 
five  minutes  after  the  close  of  evening  parade,  and  officers  will 


14:          Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

don  the  required  dress  as  quickly  as  possible.  Officers  will  take 
seats  on  intimation  from  the  senior  who  will  preside,  and  as  this 
is  the  social  hour  of  the  day  and  the  purpose  of  the  mess  is  the 
mingling  of  gentlemen  and  the  promotion  of  cordiality  and  com 
radeship,  no  officer  will  leave  the  table  until  after  coffee  has 
been  served.  The  signal  to  rise  will  be  given  by  the  presiding 
officer. 

"Political,  personal  and  religious  discussions  are  interdicted  as 
being  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  occasion,  and  officers  will  re 
frain  from  conversation  that  may  possibly  be  misinterpreted 
while  servants  are  in  the  room.  Officers  having  guests  will 
notify  the  caterer  ia  advance,  and,  in  order  that  proper  atten 
tion  may  be  shown  them,  will  present  them  to  the  senior  officer 
immediately  upon  his  arrival." 

Over  this  unusual  document  the  young  officer  pon 
dered  a  moment,  a  smile  of  amusement  hovering  about 
his  lips.  Then,  without  comment,  he  returned  it  to 
the  waiting  mess  boy.  It  was  the  evening  of  his  third 
day  at  Camp  Boutelle  and  of  his  first  appearance  at 
dinner.  Breakfast  and  luncheon  he  had  thrice  par 
taken  of,  but  Mrs.  Blake,  the  charming  wife  of  his 
regimental  commander,  and  a  friend  of  many  years, 
had  insisted  on  his  dining  with  her  and  a  few  chosen 
ones  the  first  evening,  and  Chaplain  and  Mrs.  Stan 
hope,  other  old  friends,  had  drag-netted  him  to  dinner 
the  second.  On  both  occasions  Captain  Crabtree,  the 
temporary  post  commander,  had  been  present  and 
very  much  in  evidence,  and  his  voice  in  anecdote, 
reminiscence  or  prophecy  was  ever  dominant.  It  had 
pleased  the  captain  to  be  very  gracious  to  the  young 
trooper.  "Crab"  well  knew  and  admired  the  colonel, 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  JRap          15 

his  father,  and  was  prompt  to  say  how  much  the  son 
resembled  him.  JSTow  they  were  to  meet  at  the  mess 
dinner,  and,  as  a  possibly  necessary  preliminary, 
Lieutenant  Kay  had  been  handed  and  virtually  re 
quested  to  study  the  already  famous  and  widely  dis 
cussed  document  known  thus  far  as  "Crabby's  Code." 
A  strange  creature  was  this  Crabtree,  a  fine  sol 
dier,  brave,  enthusiastic,  energetic,  but  oddly  unlike 
his  comrades.  English  he  was  to  the  backbone,  and 
very  valuable  in  his  two  years'  apprenticeship  as  a 
sergeant  and  the  long  subaltern  service  that  followed. 
He  had  evidently  been  thoroughly  drilled  in  the  past, 
for  his  "set  up"  was  the  best  in  the  regiment;  but 
concerning  that  past  he  could  never  be  induced  to 
freely  talk.  Direct  questioning  annoyed  him;  cross- 
questioning  he  shunned  and  the  questioners  he 
snubbed.  The  rank  and  file  opined  that  he  was  a  de 
serter  from  His  Majesty's  forces.  Certain  it  was  that 
he  had  shown  no  "time  expired"  or  other  papers.  On 
presenting  himself  at  the  recruiting  office  in  ISTew 
York,  somewhere  late  in  the  seventies,  he  gave  his 
birthplace  as  Huddersfield,  Yorkshire,  his  age  as 
twenty-three  and  his  occupation  as  clerk.  He  de 
clared  he  had  neither  wife  nor  child,  and  agreed  to 
accept  such  bounty,  pay  and  rations  as  Uncle  Sam 
might  tender  him,  signed  the  papers  and  stepped  into 
the  recruit  squad  at  "the  Island"  a  better  drilled  man 
than  the  corporal  told  off  to  teach  him  his  facings.  In 
less  than  a  year  he  in  turn  was  drilling  recruits.  In 


16  JUewenant  ®anD?  Kap 

less  than  two  years  he  had  his  sergeant's  bars,  and  in 
?82  had  won  his  way  to  the  commission  of  a  second 
lieutenant.  From  this  time  on  Crabtree  moved  stead 
ily  forward  in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country, 
without  ever  having  severed  civic  relations  with  that 
of  his  birth.  He  was  clean  built,  clean  shaven,  clean 
spoken,  a  good  boxer,  swimmer  and  all-round  athlete, 
but  he  was  close.  "Crab,"  as  his  comrades  called  him 
for  short,  neither  borrowed  nor,  at  first,  lent.  Crab 
never  talked  of  his  own  affairs  nor  did  he  meddle  with 
those  of  others.  Crab  scraped  and  saved  until  he  was 
known  to  have  more  money,  and  spend  less,  than  any 
subaltern  in  the  regiment.  798  saw  him  gazetted  to 
his  captaincy,  and  five  years  later  he  was  commanding 
a  battalion  as  senior  of  his  grade  at  the  post 

And  all  these  years,  though  an  admirer  of  the  sex, 
he  had  never  married,  nor  to  the  knowledge  of  any 
man  or  woman  in  the  42nd,  had  he  even  shown  symp 
toms  of  entanglement.  He  devoted  himself  assidu 
ously  and  successively  to  just  one  woman — the  wife 
of  the  commanding  officer,  whenever  that  distin 
guished  dame  happened  to  be  with  the  regiment.  He 
showed  almost  abject  deference  to  just  one  man — the 
commanding  officer  himself. 

To  all  others  Crab  was  civil,  kindly  or  indifferent, 
accordingly  to  the  extent  of  his  liking,  but  the  post 
or  regimental  commander,  whether  Crab  liked  him  or 
not,  was  the  object  of  his  unlimited  adulation.  Roy 
alty  itself  could  have  asked  no  more  at  his  hands. 


JUeittenant  §>anDp  Bag  IT 

Crab  never  presumed  to  come  within  six  paces  of  the 
post  commander  unless  specifically  urged.  Crab  never 
presumed  to  sit,  or  even  to  stand  except  at  attention, 
in  the  presence  of  the  post  commander.  Crab  set  him 
apparently  upon  a  pedestal  of  exclusiveness  and  dig 
nity  that  none  else  might  venture  to  approach.  Crab 
laughed  at  his  commander's  eldest  jokes  with  re 
joicing  new  born  at  each  repetition.  Crab  rebuked 
the  faintest  levity,  otherwise  inspired,  in  presence  of 
that  official,  and  Crab  would  look  volumes  of  reproach 
at  brother  officers  who  spoke  in  criticism  of  their  com 
mon  superior.  It  was  patent  to  all  that  to  Crab's 
mind  the  divinity  that  doth  hedge  a  king  was  the 
mantle  that  should  cloak  the  post  commander,  all  of 
which  was  somewhat  repugnant  to  the  American  idea. 
It  was  more  than  repugnant  when  Crab  himself,  by 
some  strange  freak  of  soldier  fortune,  stepped  while 
still  a  captain  into  temporary  command  of  a  fairly 
large  and  important  post,  for  within  the  compass  of  a 
single  day  he  contrived  to  make  it  known  that  just 
such  deference  as  it  was  his  custom  to  show  to  his  com 
mander,  that  deference  he  expected  to  be  shown  to 
himself. 

It  was  Ray's  consummate  good  luck,  said  envious 
comrades  in  the  Malinta  squadron,  to  be  offered  the 
command  of  that  troop  at  regimental  headquarters. 
It  was  Ray's  consummate  ill  luck,  said  Blunt,  who 
knew  something  of  his  previous  history,  that  he 
should  be  sent  to  Camp  Boutelle  just  at  this  particular 


is  Lieutenant  SanDp  Kap 

time.  Blake,  colonel  commanding,  was  gone  for  a 
fortnight  at  least  and  possibly  longer.  Forrest,  major 
commanding  the  squadron,  was  gone  in  all  probability 
for  as  long  a  time.  Fethers,  the  cavalry  adjutant, 
with  his  precious  regimental  band,  was  here  to  be 
sure,  and  not  too  happy  were  the  bandsmen  at  having 
to  play  for  the  ceremonies  of  an  alien  command. 
Stanhope,  the  chaplain,  and  his  amiable  consort  were 
still  at  the  post,  and  best  of  all,  Colonel  Blake's  wise 
and  winsome  wife  was  there  to  befriend  Mr.  Ray  if, 
as  had  been  many  a  time  the  case  in  the  past,  the 
young  officer  tumbled  into  trouble.  But  while  all  pre 
dicted  that  it  couldn't  be  long,  under  such  rule  and 
conditions  as  Crabtree  had  started,  before  trouble 
came,  no  one  of  their  number  began  to  predict  or  in 
deed  to  imagine  the  source  from  which  trouble  was 
destined  to  come,  as  come  it  speedily  did,  again  to 
Lieutenant  Sanford  Ray. 


Lieutenant  ©an  Dp  mag  19 


CHAPTER  II. 

IT  was  the  late  autumn  of  the  year  of  our  Lord  the 
nineteen  hundred  and  third  and  of  the  new  uniform 
the  first.  The  42nd  Infantry  being  stationed  in  the 
States  long  months  after  the  issue  of  G.  O.  No.  132  on 
the  fateful  31st  of  December,  had  found  itself  com 
pelled,  so  far  as  its  officers  were  concerned,  to  pur 
chase  much  of  the  new  outfit — that  much  of  it,  too, 
which  could  hardly  be  worn  in  the  tropics.  The  42nd 
had  been  at  a  big  eastern  garrison,  a  fine  and  showy 
regiment  much  in  requisition  for  parades,  exposi 
tions  and  monument  unveilings  and  monumental 
sham  battles.  It  had  to  get  the  new  full  uniform, 
even  though  it  could  get  nothing  for  the  old.  An 
optimistic  inspector  had  said,  in  reply  to  the  rueful 
question  of  certain  subalterns  who  had  not  yet  suc 
ceeded  in  paying  for  the  overcoat  and  the  double- 
breasted  frock,  the  handsome,  costly  belt,  sword, 
shoulder-knots  and  helmet  purchased  but  six  months 
earlier,  aSell  'era  to  some  of  these  National  Guards- 
men.  They  are  always  glad  to  get  'em  at  a  sacrifice." 
But  the  inspector  knew  not  the  National  Guard,  who 
had  no  use  whatever  for  uniforms  or  equipments  no 
longer  to  be  those  of  the  regular  service.  Lieuten- 


20          Lieutenant  San  Dp  Rag 

ants  Walker,  Trott  and  Hikeman,  now  of  the  42nd, 
had  not  worn  their  eighty  dollar  overcoats  six  times 
apiece,  nor  their  fine  full  dress  six  times  six,  when 
they  were  ordered  to  provide  themselves  with  an  en 
tirely  new,  much  more  extensive  and  far  more  ex 
pensive  wardrobe.  "I'll  have  six  suits  of  uniform 
and  as  many  at  law,"  said  one  luckless  youngster. 
"Oh,  why  did  I  ever  go  for  a  soldier  ?"  The  officers 
of  the  42nd  got  the  new  full  dress  in  the  spring,  "the 
route"  for  Manila  in  the  summer  and  the  bills  by 
almost  every  post  between  times  and  after.  The  bat 
talion  ordered  to  take  station  at  Camp  Boutelle  ar 
rived  in  khaki — and  September.  From  that  time  un 
til  the  date  of  Mr.  Ray's  appearance  in  November, 
not  once  had  either  full  dress  or  dress  uniform  been 
worn.  On  the  principle  of  "in  for  a  penny,  in  for  a 
pound,"  some  few  young  swells  had  gone  so  far  as  to 
order  the  evening  dress  coat  or  the  mess  jacket  pro 
vided  for  in  the  general  order,  and  Crabtree,  who 
was  forever  drawing  odious  and  invidious  compari 
sons  between  the  mess  system  of  the  English  army  and 
that  of  our  own,  was  known  to  possess  both.  Even 
though  the  summer  white  uniform  was  cool,  good  to 
look  at  and  most  becoming,  Crabtree  preferred  to 
make  his  appearance  after  retreat  in  the  social  "spike- 
tail"  with  military  embellishments.  And  having 
ascertained  that  no  fewer  than  three  of  the  mess  were 
possessors  of  the  jackets,  what  had  Crabtree  done  but 


JUeiitenant  ^anDg  Bag          21 


issue  mandate  that  the  jacket  should  be  worn  at 
dinner  ! 

Boutelle  was  far  from  the  beaten  track.  A  little, 
two-company  post  at  the  start,  it  snuggled  close  to  the 
beach,  between  the  mountains  and  the  China  sea. 
Then  came  a  season  of  pernicious  activity  among  the 
natives  in  the  interior.  Cavalry  were  sent  to  the 
field,  and,  finding  it  impossible  to  penetrate  the  dense 
bamboo,  were  remanded  to  the  post.  More  infantry 
came  and  saw  and  conquered,  temporarily  at  least,  but 
the  officials  who  studied  the  situation  decided  to  en 
large  the  garrison  even  if  they  could  not  expand  the 
limits.  The  site  was  fine  and  healthful,  for  Luzon. 
The  spring  water  was  good,  the  sea  water  was  spark 
ling,  and  when  the  quarters  became  crowded,  why, 
what  more  simple  than  to  send  forth  the  garrison,  half 
at  a  time,  and  let  them  scout  for  a  living.  It  was  good 
exercise,  and  fun  for  the  natives.  The  bamboo  trails 
had  been  worn  broad  enough  for  bridle  paths  by  this 
time  and  the  cavalry  could  travel  in  column  of  files 
if  it  couldn't  do  anything  else.  So  a  busy  time  had 
the  boys  at  Boutelle  and  no  one  much  the  worse  for  it 
until  Blake,  the  colonel,  was  called  to  Manila;  For 
rest,  the  major,  was  sent  to  the  mountains,  and  Crab- 
tree,  the  captain  commanding  the  Forty-Second's 
Second  Battalion,  became  at  one  fell  swoop  and  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life  head  both  of  a  mess  and  a 
post.  It  was  a  head  turned  from  the  start. 

Now  Sandy  Eay,  as  has  been  said,  was  serving  his 


22  {Lieutenant  SanDg 

second  tour  in  the  Islands  and  had  completed  almost 
a  year  of  the  allotted  two.  He  and  his  fellows  of  the 
cavalry  had  availed  themselves  of  that  portion  of  the 
order  which  permitted  officers  on  duty  in  Alaska  or 
the  Philippines  to  wait  until  their  return  to  the 
States  before  fitting  themselves  out  with  the  new  bill 
of  dress,  but  Sandy  had  had  a  chance  to  run  over  to 
Hong  Kong  during  the  spring,  and  the  mess  jacket 
being  an  item  of  attire  borrowed  obviously  from  the 
British  service,  he  let  an  English  army  tailor  try  his 
hand  at  the  job,  and  very  natty  and  equally  un-Amer 
ican  was  the  resultant  garment.  Colonel  Ray,  his 
father,  with  the  conservatism  of  the  "Old  Army,"  had 
looked  upon  it,  when  reluctantly  produced  for  family 
inspection  in  Manila,  with  whimsical  disfavor  and 
referred  to  it  not  as  a  mess,  but  as  a  monkey  jacket. 
Navy  officers,  however,  who  knew  the  world  and  saw 
with  broadened  visions,  pronounced  it  eminently  cor 
rect — just  what  the  officers  wore  at  Malta,  "Gib"  and 
the  score  of  other  army  stations  that  girdles  the  globe 
with  the  colors  of  Great  Britain.  But  in  his  own 
regiment  Sandy  had  not  yet  ventured  to  wear  it.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  however,  it  may  be  asserted  here  and 
now  that  Lieutenant  Ray  felt  none  of  the  rancor  ex 
pressed  by  Messrs.  Blunt,  Trott  and  Hikeman  over 
Captain  Crabtree's  order.  The  Pittsburg  had  dropped 
anchor  in  the  bay,  and  two  of  her  officers,  calling  upon 
the  post  commander,  had  been  bidden  to  dinner. 
Sandy  could  see  their  boat  even  now  cleaving  the  blue 


Lieutenant  @anUp  Kap 


billows  long  distance  out  from  shore,  and  the  young 
officer  was  more  than  half  disposed  to  say  that  Crab- 
by's  head  was  entirely  level,  as  he  glanced  down  over 
his  immaculate  attire.  Snowy  trousers  and  waist 
coat,  with  patent  leather  ankle  boots  and  box  spurs  of 
silver,  made  very  "swagger"  accompaniment  to  the 
gold  laced  jacket.  Crab  knew  what  was  what,  said 
the  lone  cavalryman,  as  he  watched  the  tall  comman 
der  stalking  swift  to  his  bungalow,  the  juniors  sulkily 
scattering  after  him  to  effect  the  demanded  change. 
They  looked  very  fit  and  soldierly  in  the  trim,  well- 
"laundered"  khaki.  "But,  bless  my  soul,"  said  Crab, 
"you  wouldn't  have  a  gentleman  sit  down  to  eat  in 
fighting  kit,  would  you?"  and  so  the  fiat  had  gone 
forth. 

And  presently,  with  the  benedicks  and  their  better 
halves  and  olive  branches  poking  fun  at  them  from 
the  verandas,  the  bachelors  sheepishly  and  sulkily 
appeared,  three  of  them  at  least,  attired  almost  as 
was  Mr.  Ray,  the  others,  cursing  their  luck  if  not 
their  commander,  in  the  double-breasted  blue  frock, 
with  stiff  standing  collar  and  glistening  shoulder- 
knots,  buttoned  snugly  to  the  throat,  and  this  with  the 
mercury  standing  at  eighty-eight  in  spite  of  the 
blessed  sea  breeze.  When  asked  should  they  alsc> 
wear  belt  and  side  arms,  Captain  Crabtree  austerely 
said,  no.  Only  one  regiment  in  His  Majesty's  army 
so  appeared,  but  that  was  tradition.  Its  officers  had 
once  been  massacred,  while  sitting  at  mess,  through 


24          Lieutenant  SanDp  Rap 

the  trtachery  of  the  Sepoy  servants,  and  their  suc 
cessors  went  side-armed  to  dinner  from  that  time 
forth.  When  they,  these  Boutelle  bachelors,  were 
assembled  on  the  veranda  of  the  mess  house  and  saw 
the  navy  men  being  escorted  from  Crab's  bungalow, 
they  said  further  opprobrious  things  because  they 
wished  the  function  over  and  done  with,  and  felt  cer 
tain  there  would  be  exasperating  delays.  In  no  hos 
pitable  mood  were  they,  Blunt  especially  bordering 
on  the  mutinous  in  his  condemnation  of  the  entire 
proceeding,  Ray  alone  maintaining  an  appearance  of 
equanimity,  and  such  were  the  climatic  conditions 
under  which  began  a  very  unpretentious  dinner  that 
was  destined  to  become  memorable  in  the  annals  of 
Camp  Boutelle. 

For  something  had  happened  to  ruffle  the  com 
manding  officer,  and  when  Crabtree  was  cross,  crabbed 
and  commanding,  all  the  world  about  him  was  sure 
to  know  it.  Blunt  was  first  to  see  it  as  the  little  party 
finally  drew  near,  Crab  and  the  cavalry  adjutant, 
levied  on  for  the  occasion,  escorting  the  two  gentle 
men  from  the  Pittsburgh  wardroom,  and  a  stiff 
orderly  following  at  discreet  distance  in  their  wake. 
"Watch  out,  fellows/'  muttered  the  discoverer, 
"something's  gone  crooked  with  Crab  and  Crab  is  in  a 
pet.  Don't  anybody  open  his  head  until  he  has  to." 

"It's  only  that  Mrs.  Shane  has  been  guying  him 
again,"  said  Walker.  "I  heard  her  say  she  had  a 


Lieutenant  ©anflg  Bap  25 

rod  in  pickle  for  him,  and — didn't  she  stop  at  his 
quarters  a  moment  ago  ?" 

Mrs.  Shane  was  Crabbj's  social  Nemesis  and  no 
more  afraid  of  him,  even  when  commanding  officer, 
than  she  was  of  her  husband  at  any  time.  Mrs.  Shane 
had  more  friends  than  Crabby,  for  she  was  a  woman 
to  win  and  hold  them.  But  she  couldn't  bear  Crab- 
tree,  as  she  frankly  admitted,  and  curiously  enough, 
was  constantly  seeking  his  society.  She  loved  to  prod 
and  provoke  him,  and  she  could  do  both.  He  had 
early  incurred  the  ill  will  of  many  a  woman  in  his 
former  regiment,  and  it  followed  him  to  the  new,  by 
the  announcement  that  he  was  not  a  "marrying  man." 
He  would  be  no  woman's  slave.  It  wasn't  that  any 
woman  at  Boutelle  wanted  Crab  for  a  husband.  It 
was  because  many  a  woman  at  Boutelle  wished  to  wed 
him  to  some  impecunious  niece  or  sister,  and  Mrs. 
Shane  knew  of  several.  Moreover,  Mrs.  Shane  was  a 
stranger  to  the  ways  of  the  old  army,  she  having  en 
tered  the  service,  so  to  speak,  as  a  consequence  of  the 
Spanish  War.  Previous  to  that  episode  in  our  his 
tory  Mrs.  Shane  had  spent  her  days  in  the  compara 
tive  seclusion  of  a  western  manufacturing  town,  had 
married  a  smart  young  university  graduate  with  mar 
tial  tendencies  that  had  made  him  one  of  the  best  offi 
cers  in  the  university  battalion,  and  later  captain  of 
the  local  company  of  the  State  militia,  with  which 
rank  and  command  he  went  to  the  Philippines  on  one 
of  the  first  expeditions  in  '98,  had  made  a  record  that 


26  JLteutenant  §>anDp  Rag 

won  him  a  captaincy  in  the  national  volunteers,  and 
later  a  commission  in  the  Forty-Second  regulars. 
Mrs.  Shane,  having  long  led  the  church  choir  and  the 
Woman's  Guild  at  home ;  having  dominated  both  pas 
tor  and  flock,  and  displayed  quite  as  many  qualities  of 
command  as  had  her  gallant  husband,  knew  nothing 
of  "the  divinity"  previously  referred  to,  that  doth 
hedge  a  king  or  a  commanding  officer.  She  treated 
every  man  from  corporal  up  to  colonel  with  the  same 
frank,  off-hand,  independent  friendliness  so  long  as 
she  liked  him.  Crabtree  she  had  disliked  from  the 
start  and  never  had  to  tell  him  so.  He  could  have 
forgiven  it  in  her  the  more  readily  had  she  shown  it 
in  some  other  way,  but  Mrs.  Shane  laughed  at  him, 
and  that  was  unbearable. 

There  were  but  half  a  dozen  families  among  the 
officers'  quarters  at  Camp  Boutelle  the  autumn  of 
1904,  and  Crabtree  could  have  wished  the  number 
still  further  reduced,  and  at  the  expense  of  the  42nd. 
A  story  was  often  told  concerning  his  initiation  in 
American  military  life  that  was  a  source  of  rare  vex 
ation  to  him,  and  that  he  had  long  since  said  no  gen 
tleman  would  repeat  or  refer  to  in  his  presence — and 
no  friend  at  any  time.  He  had  scientifically  pum- 
meled  more  than  one  fellow  soldier  in  his  day  for  even 
hinting  at  it,  and  was  quite  ready  to  do  as  much  for  a 
brother  officer.  A  combination  of  Irish  recruiting 
sergeant  and  English  family  pride  had  led  to  the 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap  27 

trouble.  When  asked  his  Christian  name  the  would- 
be  recruit  had  truthfully  answered  "Almeric." 

"Al  what  ?"  bellowed  the  sergeant. 

"Meric,"  coolly  answered  the  Briton. 

"Al  Merrick,  is  it?  Well,  young  man,  we've  no 
use  for  names  split  that  way  in  the  army.  What's 
the  Al  stand  for,  Albert,  Alfred  2— Naythur  3  Well, 
it  does  then  from  this  time,  d'ye  hear  ?"  And  the 
Briton,  who  had  really  been  named  for  a  member  of 
a  very  distinguished  military  family,  found  himself 
enrolled  in  the  Army  of  the  United  States  as  Albert 
11.  Crabtree  until  after  his  promotion  to  the  grade  of 
second  lieutenant,  when  by  special  edict  it  was 
changed  and  he  was  rechristened  and  commissioned 
"Almeric  P.,"  and  mightily  did  his  comrades  won 
der  what  the  P  stood  for,  and  Crab  refused  to  tell. 
Now,  Mrs.  Shane  had  stumbled  on  this  story  shortly 
after  her  joining  the  Forty-Second  and  from  that  day 
forth  life  had  new  zest  for  Crabby.  It  was  remem 
bered  that  shortly  before  the  navy  men  were  seen 
sauntering  in  past  the  sentry  post  at  the  beach  en 
trance,  Mrs.  Shane,  coming  suddenly  out  of  the  doc 
tor's  doorway  adjoining  Crab's  quarters,  had  caught 
sight  of  the  temporary  post  commander  just  within 
the  bamboo  lattice  of  his  own  portal.  As  ill  luck 
would  have  it,  he  had  just  come  for  a  peep  toward  the 
beach  in  search  of  his  guests,  and  the  expanse  of 
white  shirt  front  and  glittering  shoulder-knots,  lace 
and  buttons  had  instantly  caught  her  eye.  The  doc- 


28  Lieutenant  @>anDg  Kag 

tor's  laughing  wife  had  partially,  at  least,  heard,  and 
Lieutenant  Walker  had  observed  the  action  of  the 
ensuing  colloquy,  for  it  was  one-sided  at  best  and 
abruptly  ended.  At  a  mere  chance  verbal  shot  on 
part  of  his  fair  tormentor,  Crab  had  started  violently, 
turned  his  back  and  quit  the  doorway,  leaving  Mrs. 
Shane,  with  rather  a  scared  look  on  her  bonny  face,  to 
scurry  away  home  and  husbandward,  where,  as  was 
subsequently  heard,  she  told  her  own  particular  sol 
dier  what  had  happened.  By  this  time  the  navy  men 
had  reached  the  captain's  bungalow  and  they  and  the 
sight  of  mess  jackets  along  the  hard-pounded  shell 
walk  put  all  other  thoughts  out  of  most  people's 
heads. 

Never  before  had  Captain  Crabtree  been  known  to 
drink  so  much  as  to  tangle  his  tongue  or  ideas,  but 
this  night,  as  was  remembered  long  at  Camp  Bou- 
telle,  he  came  flushed  and  flustered  to  the  mess,  made 
a  perceptible  "break"  in  presenting  his  junior  offi 
cers  to  these  polished  and  traveled  guests  from  the 
sister  service,  and,  not  content  with  the  sound  and 
palatable  claret  the  caterer  had  directed  served  until 
dessert,  ordered  the  Filipino  steward  to  bring  in 
champagne  before  soup  was  fairly  out  of  the  way, 
then  began  drinking  and  toasting  right  and  left. 
There  were  men  present  who  would  drink  only  in 
moderation  at  any  time.  There  was  one  who  would 
not  drink  at  all.  Lieutenant  Ray  had  turned  down 
his  glass  the  moment  the  bottle  began  the  round,  and 


Lieutenant  ^anDp  Bag  29 


before  dinner  was  half  over  Crabtree  was  reproach 
ing  his  fellows  for  not  filling  up  and  doing  honor  to 
the  occasion.  He  had  seated  Lieutenant  Commander 
Ballaine  at  his  right  and  Lieutenant  Garrett  at  his 
left,  placing  Captain  Fethers  next  beyond  the  senior 
of  the  navy  men  and  Blunt  next  the  junior,  and  every 
little  while,  with  much  effort  at  jocularity,  he  would 
rally  the  young  trooper  just  beyond  them  on  his  un 
professional  abstinence.  "JSTever  heard  of  such  a 
thing  in  the  cavalry,  Kay,  me  boy,"  said  he  ;  "never," 
then  haplessly  added,  "and  your  father's  son,  too?" 
whereat  Ray's  pale  and  embarrassed  face  went  sud 
denly  red,  and  the  adjutant  shot  warning  glances  at 
his  misguided  commander.  That  Crab  should 
monopolize  the  talk  was  nothing  new,  but  this  night, 
only  in  mutter  ings  to  one  another,  were  the  juniors 
heard  at  all,  Crab's  high-pitched  voice  dominated  all 
other  sounds  and  every  subject. 

Dinner  had  been  somewhat  delayed  to  begin  with, 
for  Crabtree  kept  his  guests  at  his  quarters  from  ten 
to  fifteen  minutes  before  escorting  them  over.  With 
mistaken  hospitality  he  had  prescribed  cocktails, 
which  his  guests  politely  sipped  but  privately 
shunned,  and  had  himself  partaken  of  two.  Then, 
despite  the  fact  that  eight  brother  officers  were 
dawdling  on  the  mess  veranda  and  some  of  them 
damning  the  delay,  nothing  would  do  but  a  detour 
round  by  Colonel  Blake's  quarters  that  he  might  pre 
sent  the  distinguished  visitors  to  the  charming  wife 


30  Hieutenant  ^anDp  Rap 

of  the  absent  commander.  Mrs.  Blake,  seated  with 
her  friend,  Mrs.  Stanhope,  on  her  own  piazza  fronting 
the  now  moonlit  sea,  had  greeted  them  with  smiling 
grace,  and  Mrs.  Stanhope,  who  scented  bitters,  spirits 
and  irreverence  about  the  temporary  head  of  affairs, 
with  a  reserve  indicative  of  clerical  disapprobation. 
Mess  call  had  sounded  at  the  proper  time,  concluding 
with  the  signal  "full  dress,"  and  every  member  had 
responded  but  the  senior.  Then,  twenty  minutes  later 
the  visitors  stood  about  the  colonel's  doorway,  Crab,  as 
usual,  doing  all  the  talking,  and  just  at  this  moment 
the  adjutant  was  startled  to  hear,  loud  and  spirited, 
the  same  call  repeated,  and  then,  aghast  and  dis 
mayed,  to  hear  it  followed  up  with  imperative  em 
phasis  by  "double  time."  Crab  was  so  engrossed  in 
his  own  eloquence  he  neither  marked  nor  heard,  but 
all  the  rest  of  Camp  Boutelle  was  aware  of  it  within 
the  next  half  hour  and  knew  just  how  and  why  that 
call  was  sounded,  and  knew,  though  it  couldn't  swear, 
just  who  sounded  it.  As  no  man  could  take  his  seat 
or  leave  it  before  the  commanding  officer,  that  be 
deviled  banquet  was  bidding  fair  to  last  until  mid 
night,  when  startling  interruption  came. 


Hieutenant  ^anD?  Ea?          si 


CHAPTEK  III. 

MENTION  has  been  made  of  the  activity  of  the 
ladrones  in  Luzon,  and  of  native  banditti  elsewhere. 
Colonel  Ray,  with  a  mixed  command  of  horse  and 
foot,  scouts  and  machine  guns,  was  having  a  brisk 
campaign  against  the  really  formidable  array  of 
fanatical  savages  in  a  far  southern  province.  Colonel 
Blake  had  been  sending  out  an  occasional  detachment 
here  in  northern  Luzon,  where,  however,  matters 
seemed  fairly  quiet.  Cavite  province,  southwest  of 
the  capital  city,  yet  only  a  few  hours  away,  was  alive 
with  nimble  foemen,  who  impartially  robbed  every 
body,  but  killed,  when  they  could  help  it,  only  whites. 
But  now  matters  had  begun  to  look  squally  along  the 
line  of  communication  'twixt  Boutelle  and  Dagupan, 
the  northward  end  of  the  railway.  Up  to  the  morn 
ing  of  the  Pittsburgh  appearance  in  the  offing,  the 
very  day  of  Crab's  initial  dinner,  the  telegraph  line 
had  been  unmolested,  the  main  road  undisturbed,  but 
demonstrations  had  occurred  that  convinced  the  gen 
eral  commanding  that  there  was  disaffection  among 
certain  ex-officers  of  the  Aguinaldo  army  and  that 
they  were  stirring  up  mischief  in  a  new  direction.  It 
was  no  chance  shot,  this  coming  of  the  saucy  gunboat 


32  Lieutenant  SanDp  Kap 

with  her  load  of  saucier  jackies.  The  admiral  had 
an  ear  for  indications  and  an  eye  on  the  coast  line, 
and  it  was  by  his  order  that  the  Pittsburg  slipped  in 
past  Point  Conception  with  the  early  dawn  and  the 
captain's  gig  was  called  away  soon  after  colors. 

For  forty  hours  not  a  soul  had  come  up  from  the 
south,  and  Crab  knew  nothing  positive  in  that  direc 
tion.  Moreover,  he  was  oddly  constituted,  as  are 
often  others,  and  firm  in  the  faith  that  nothing  could 
go  wrong  about  his  bailiwick  without  his  knowing  it. 
With  all  suavity  and  civility  he  had  received  the  in 
formation  given  him  by  Ballaine.  Airily  he  dictated 
a  despatch  or  two  that  the  navy  men  might  see  his 
wires  were  untouched.  Lazily  he  directed  Captain 
Fethers  to  send  forth  a  few  native  scouts,  with  in 
structions  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  rumors  men 
tioned;  then  elaborately  he  insisted  on  showing  the 
visitors  over  the  post,  which  they  did  not  at  all  care 
to  see,  and  immediately  upon  their  return  to  the  ship, 
donned  his  dress  uniform  and  with  his  adjutant  and 
orderly,  was  rowed  out  to  the  anchorage,  and  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life  (may  he  live  to  hear  the  guns  in 
his  honor ! )  returned,  as  commanding  officer,  the  cere 
monious  call  of  the  captain  of  a  man-of-war.  Crab 
was  in  a  glow  of  glory  and  delight  throughout  that 
livelong  day.  If  he  had  a  regret  of  any  kind  before 
parade  it  was  that  he  had  forgotten  to  ask  his  navy 
visitors  to  come  in  time  to  see  the  fine  exhibition  of 
his  well-drilled  battalion.  If  he  had  any  peace  after 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Kap  SB 

it,  the  fault  lay  not  at  the  door  of  either  Mrs.  Shane 
or  the  mess,  for  both  had  found  means,  one  by  acci 
dent,  the  other  with  malice  prepense,  to  deal  him 
much  annoy.  But  this  was  not  all.  Even  while  airily 
receiving  the  "latest  intelligence"  of  insurgent  move 
ments  as  known  in  Manila,  and  affecting  to  be  in  pos 
session  of  later  and  more  accurate  information,  Crab- 
tree  had  warned  his  sergeant  major  and  clerk  to  stand 
by  the  office  and  watch  that  wire.  The  signal  men 
had  orders  not  to  quit  their  station,  one  operator  be 
ing  constantly  at  the  instrument.  Ballaine  had  told 
him  that  only  two  days  earlier  the  commanding  gen 
eral  had  wired  the  admiral  he  was  almost  disposed  to 
revoke  the  orders  calling  Colonel  Blake  to  Manila  and 
sending  Major  Forrest  to  the  field.  The  general 
should  see,  said  Crab  to  himself,  that  in  the  person, 
of  the  present  post  commander  he  had  an  official  every 
whit  as  energetic  and  brilliant  as  the  seniors  sent 
away,  and  if  there  happened  to  be  a  robber  band 
within  a  dozen  miles  of  Camp  Boutelle,  to  Boutelle 
and  its  temporary  commander  should  go  all  the  credit 
of  that  band's  capture  or  annihilation.  Then  came 
( the  chance  shot  from  the  smiling  lips  of  Mrs.  Shane ; 
then  followed  a  story,  told  in  few  words  by  the  best 
raconteur  in  the  mess,  that  Crab  was  fain  to  laugh  at, 
at  the  moment,  though  it  enraged  his  secret  soul,  and 
then  came,  at  half  past  ten,  and  at  the  climax  of  a 
long-winded  varn  Crab  was  distressed  to  leave  unfin- 


34:          lieutenant  §>anDg  Bap 

ished,  the  startling  announcement  from  the  office: 
"Line's  down,  sir,  and  San  Sulpicio  all  afire !" 

Barely  nine  miles  around  the  deep,  concave  curve 
of  the  bay  on  the  southward  road  to  Dagupan,  lay  the 
teaming  little  town  the  natives  only  knew  as  Baling- 
bang  till  the  padres  and  the  friars  built  the  big  new, 
church  and  monastery,  the  sisters  came  and  opened 
school  for  native  children,  and  both  demanded  that 
the  church  should  christen  every  Filipino  soul  and 
rechristen  their  earthly  abiding  place.  A  little  river 
came  gushing  from  the  mountains  back  of  town  and 
flowed  swiftly  through  its  bamboo  fringes  to  the  sea. 
Bancas  by  the  dozen  bore  daily  tribute  of  the  kindly; 
fruits  of  the  earth  to  Balingbang's  landing  steps, 
where  many  a  casco  unloaded  wares  brought  by  Chi 
nese  vessels  from  the  westward  sea,  and  Chinese  by 
the  score,  Tagalogs  and  Ilocanos  by  the  hundred 
swarmed  in  the  surrounding  barrios.  It  was  the  cen 
ter  of  population,  and  the  obvious  site  for  such  a 
church  and  school.  But  little  Camp  Boutelle,  when, 
first  named,  had  been  pitched  nearly  half  way  round 
the  bend  of  the  beautiful  bay,  nor  with  added  years, 
importance  and  soldier  population  had  it  been  re 
moved.  San  Sulpicio  was  no  place  for  soldiers;  all 
officers  agreed  as  to  that,  for  there  was  manufactured 
a  liquor  of  comprehensive  vileness  that  rivaled  Rip 
Van  Winkle's  sleeping  potion  in  its  deadening  effect. 
There  had  been  differences  between  the  civil  authori 
ties  of  Sulpicio  and  their  military  kindred  at  the 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  iRap          35 

camp.  There  had  even  been  bad  blood,  for  smuggling 
had  been  carried  on  at  Sulpicio  and  charged  by  Sul- 
picio's  "deputy  collector'7  and  others  of  the  civil  law, 
dire«tly  to  the  military  at  the  fort.  Colonel  Blake 
despised  the  deputy  and  all  his  works,  and  between 
Sulpicio  and  Boutelle  had  sprung  up  a  curious  feud 
that  had  even  led  to  bloodletting  among  the  partisans 
of  both.  But  as  the  mess  came  scampering  forth  into 
the  night,  the  white  fronts  and  trousers  glistening  in 
the  moonbeams,  all  this  was  forgotten.  The  navy 
officers  hurriedly  gathered  up  their  caps  and  sped  to 
their  waiting  boat.  The  assembly  rang  through  the 
still  watches  of  the  night,  and  the  men  came  tumbling 
from  their  bunks  and  hard  breathing  into  ranks, 
armed  for  instant  battle.  Nine  miles  of  muddy  road 
might  bear  them  to  the  scene  of  action,  but  not  until 
the  town  was  practically  wiped  out.  "Wig  wag  to  the 
Pittsburg!"  shouted  Crab.  "Ask  if  they  can  take 
fifty  men  and  land  them  there,"  and  the  signal  torch 
was  swinging  on  the  beach  before  the  captain  could 
reach  the  bristling  side,  yet  not  before  the  ready  craft 
was  under  way.  Even  before  the  alarm  sounded  at 
Boutelle  the  watch  had  seen  and  reported  the  blaze. 
The  "Deck"  had  divined  the  cause,  and  all  hands 
were  turning  up  from  below,  while  at  quarter  speed 
the  Pittsburg  headed  cautiously  shoreward  to  pick 
up  her  commander,  and  Crab's  signal  message  was 
read  to  him  even  as  the  sharp  prow  swept  round  to 
the  south  and  "Full  speed  ahead!'7  clanged  through 


36  Lieutenant  SanDg  Bap 

the  engine  room.  "Sorry — can't  possibly  wait; 
'twould  take  half  an  hour  to  fetch  7em  from  shore/' 
answered  Ballaine.  "Let  her  go  for  all  there's  in  her, 
Mr.  Fox,"  and  dove  below  for  his  fighting  kit  before 
the  "Aye,  aye,  sir"  ended.  Then  with  a  big  white 
bone  in  her  teeth,  like  a  terrier  of  the  sea,  the  swift 
gunboat  sped  on  her  way,  cleaving  the  deep  blue 
bosom  of  the  moonlit  waters,  her  wake  a  whirling 
surge  of  hissing,  snow  white  foam. 

Oh,  what  a  night  was  that  at  Boutelle!  Every 
body  up  and  many  away,  for,  with  the  band,  the  con 
valescents,  the  dismounted  troopers  left  behind  from 
the  squadron,  and  a  raft  of  extra  duty  men  to  guard 
the  post — even  the  chaplain  porting  a  "Krag"  and 
many  a  woman  gripping  a  "Colt" — Crabtree  had 
weeded  out  his  limp  and  ineffectives,  placed  Fethers 
in  command  of  the  post  and  Ray  of  the  home-kept 
cavalry,  then  with  every  officer  and  serviceable  man 
had  set  forth  by  way  of  the  beach,  his  troubles  for 
gotten,  his  vinous  exhilaration  banished  almost  at  the 
instant.  The  long  rainy  season  had  left  the  road  in 
many  places  a  quagmire  through  which  only  the 
carabaos  could  wallow.  The  river  split  a  way  through 
two  channels  to  the  sea  and  the  tide  was  high,  hold 
ing  the  swift  "hiking"  column  to  the  softer  sand  at 
top  of  the  beach,  and  making  it  harder  marching. 
But,  afoot  like  his  fellows,  Crab  strode  at  their  head, 
only  a  handful  of  men,  advance  guard  and  left  flank 
ers,  between  him  and  the  foe.  To  the  far  front  could 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  Eap          37 

be  seen  the  dulling  glow  of  the  flames  that  had  sent 
such  volumes  of  black  smoke  to  the  skies,  and,  on  the 
dim,  star-twinkling  horizon  beyond  the  low  sandspit 
at  the  mouth  of  the  stream,  visible  only  through  the 
night  glasses  of  the  signal  men,  the  ghostly  gray  dot 
of  the  Pittsburg  lay  at  the  sharp  apex  of  a  long  pencil 
of  soot  cloud.  What  on  earth  had  happened  to  Sul- 
picio  ? 

The  camp  knew  before  the  battalion — knew  that 
the  raiders  were  scattered  into  the  mountains  ere  ever 
the  head  of  the  panting  column  pushed,  paddled  or 
swam  its  way  through  the  northernmost  estuary  and. 
drew  up,  soaked  with  brine  along  the  second.  With 
out  plugging  even  a  shot  from  her  long  six-pounders, 
the  Pittsburg  had  seen  to  that.  But  two  blocks  of  a 
populous  town  had  gone  up  in  smoke,  in  sight  of  wail 
ing  women  and  children,  while  three  would-be  de 
fenders,  Americans  in  the  civil  service  and  the  one 
school,  lay  slashed  and  boloed  amid  the  ruins.  Two 
other  officials  with  their  families,  leaving  almost 
everything  behind  them,  had  slipped  away  at  the  first 
alarm,  and  in  their  light  boats  had  pushed  far  out  on 
the  bay,  whither  they  would  surely  have  been  pursued 
by  the  vengeful  band  but  for  the  salutary  appearance 
of  that  swift-speeding  war  dog,  showing  all  her  teeth 
in  the  slant  of  the  moonbeams.  The  raiders  bore 
with  them  in  their  retirement  certain  fellow  country 
men  accused  of  giving  warning,  to  be  dealt  with  later. 
.Only  half  accomplished  was  the  object  of  the  leaders. 


38  Lieutenant  SanDg 

thanks  to  that  unlocked  for  bit  of  marine  architecture, 
They  knew  just  how  long  it  would  take  the  troops  to 
get  there  and  how  much  could  be  done  in  the  mean* 
time,  but  they  had  not  prepared  for  a  rescue  from  the 
sea.  It  was  the  gunboat,  steaming  slowly  back  soon 
after  daybreak,  that  exchanged  signals  with  the  bat 
talion  on  the  beach,  but  landed  the  fugitives  and  full 
particulars  at  Boutelle.  Two  weeks  earlier  the  acting 
deputy  collector,  on  duty  at  Sulpicio,  had  been  writ 
ing  virulent  lies  about  Colonel  Blake  and  his  com 
mand  to  a  certain  bureau  of  the  Governor  General's 
office  at  Manila.  Now,  as  luck  would  have  it,  he,  his 
wife  and  daughter  were  being  housed,  sheltered,  fed, 
comforted  and  ministered  to  in  the  only  set  of  quar 
ters  big  enough  for  the  purpose  in  all  the  post,  those 
of  the  absent  commander  who  by  this  time  was  prob 
ably  facing  calumnies  at  headquarters,  while  his  de 
voted  wife  was  doing  her  best  to  succor  the  calum 
niator  here  at  their  army  home. 

And  sorely  was  succor  needed.  Amos  Dean  had 
been  a  man  of  mark  in  his  own  State,  a  vehement, 
vigorous  leader  in  politics  and  a  virulent  hater  in  any 
line.  Wealth  and  power  had  been  his.  Speculation 
had  scattered  his  money,  a  quarrel  had  broken  his 
power,  and  friends  were  glad  to  get  him  out  of  the 
way — and  a  berth  under  the  new  civil  service  in  the 
Philippines.  Before  he  had  been  a  month  at  Manila 
his  chief  found  him  far  too  aggressive  and  far  reach 
ing.  Opium  smuggling,  it  was  said,  was  being  briskly 


Lieutenant  SanDp  iftap          39 

conducted  both  along  the  shores  of  Lingayan  and  San 
Sulpicio,  and  they  sent  Dean  up  there  to  put  a  stop 
to  it.  "Give  him  rope  enough  and  he'll  hang  him 
self/7  had  been  whispered  in  the  ear  of  his  chief,  and 
Dean's  energy  had  been  phenomenal,  likewise  his  suc 
cess.  He  smote  the  shore  confederates  with  powerful 
hand,  banishing  them  to  the  mountains  and  spoiling 
their  trade,  but,  curiously,  not  the  traffic.  What 
Manila  first  failed  to  grasp  was  how  it  should  happen 
that  Dean  had  broken  up  every  smuggler's  den  along 
the  Ilocos  line,  and  yet  opium  kept  coming  in  from 
the  north.  The  dealers  had  abundance  and  the  cus 
toms  no  returns.  Then  came  light  and  secret  investi 
gation.  Then  came  Dean's  startling  allegations  at 
the  expense  of  the  garrison  at  Boutelle.  Then  came 
vengeance,  swift,  sudden  and  unlocked  for.  Even 
while,  in  due  process  of  law,  the  authorities  were  pro 
ceeding  to  enmesh  him,  the  lawless  crew  whom  he  had 
robbed  joined  forces  with  the  Ladrones  and  swooped 
upon  him  and  his  own.  Harry  Dean,  his  only  son, 
stood  and  fought  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  mother 
and  sister  he  loved  and  the  father  whom  he  more  than 
half  suspected,  and  "nobly  fighting,"  fell.  Mrs.  Dean, 
prostrate  with  dread  and  fear,  was  lifted  aboard  the 
gunboat  and  later  lowered  over  the  side  to  the  waiting 
cutter,  and  with  her  beloved  child  kneeling  by  the 
wailing  mother  as  the  silent  crew  bent  to  the  oars,  she 
was  borne  across  the  bounding  waters  and  met  at  the 
strand  by  the  ambulance  and  by  Mrs.  Blake,  who 


40          JUeutenam  S>anDp 

took  the  trembling  girl  to  her  heart  and  the  unhappy 
Deans  to  her  home,  Sandy  Raj  assisting  in  the  trans 
fer  as  best  he  might.  That  was  his  first  meeting  with 
Gertrude  Dean. 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  map          41 


CHAPTEE  IV. 

FROM  that  night  inarch  the  command  of  Captain 
Crabtree  returned  next  day  weary  and  disgusted, 
Crab  himself  being  the  crabbedest  man  in  the  party. 
The  wires  were  not  working,  so  he  could  not  favor 
Manila  with  the  army  side  of  the  story.  The  roads 
were  barely  passable  even  if  unwatched  by  the  foe, 
and  he  had  yet  to  write  his  report  and  find  means  of 
sending  it.  He  much  wished  that  the  Pittsburg 
would  remain  in  the  bay  until  he  could  send  his  ver 
sion  to  Manila,  but  the  Pittsburg  would  not.  After 
putting  the  rescued  refugees  ashore  at  Boutelle,  the 
jaunty  craft  went  about,  sped  again  to  San  Sulpicio. 
picked  up  the  landing  party  that  had  cleaned  out  the 
last  lingering  ladrone  during  the  night,  and  the  last 
seen  of  her  she  was  tearing  through  the  billows  far 
out  at  the  point,  heading  southward  with  her  tidings. 

Had  Blake  or  Forrest  been  at  home  neither,  prob 
ably,  could  have  accomplished  much  more  than  did 
Crabtree,  but  Crabtree  meant  to  do  so  very  much 
while  blessed  with  the  command,  and  now  here,  when 
there  came  a  capital  chance,  he  had  accomplished 
nothing.  Nor  were  his  men  in  better  mood.  Salt 
surf  bathing  by  moonlight  when  the  air  is  soft  and 
warm  and  the  water  soothing  is  all  very  well  when 


42          JLieutenam  @>anDp  Rag 

one  is  prepared  for  the  process,  but  it  is  otherwise 
when  one  is  panting  and  perspiring  in  marching  garb 
and  heavy  shoes.  Either  in  the  surf  or  the  sluggish 
Bingbong  every  mother's  son  had  been  immersed  to 
the  waist,  and  all  for  nothing.  They  reached  the 
neighborhood  of  town  only  when  the  revels  were  long 
over  and  the  rebels  miles  away.  They  did  not  get 
back  to  the  post  until  after  nine  the  following  day, 
many  of  them  footsore,  many  headsore  and  all  hun 
gry.  Crab's  mess  jacket  dinner  was  a  thing  of  the 
past,  but  not  so  its  consequence.  Blunt  had  dared  to 
tell  a  story  that  called  for  a  show  of  teeth  all  round 
and  the  listeners,  all  save  one,  joined  in  jolly  laugh 
ter.  That  one,  with  a  muttered  curse,  made  valorous 
attempt  at  a  tolerant  smile.  "He'll  square  with  you 
for  that,  Blunt,"  ruefully  said  Captain  Prince.  "Crab 
never  forgives  an  indignity  or  a  joke/'  and  it  looked 
as  though  Prince  were  right,  for  Blunt  was  barely  out 
of  tub  and  into  dry  clothing,  when  came  the  natty 
orderly  with  "the  commanding  officer's  compliments 
and  he  desired  to  speak  with  the  lieutenant  at  once." 
Ray,  eager  for  details,  was  with  Blunt  at  the  moment 
and  he,  too,  looked  troubled.  Blunt  finished  his 
dressing  in  sulky  silence,  then  started  for  Crabtree's 
quarters,  there  to  be  told  the  Commandante  had  just 
stepped  over  to  the  office  and  had  left  word  for  the 
lieutenant  to  follow  him.  The  post  surgeon,  at  the 
moment,  was  coming  homeward  from  the  direction  of 
the  Blakes'  big  house  and  Ray  ventured  to  inquire  for 


Hieutenant  San  Dp  Bag          43 

his  patient.  Mrs.  Dean  was  calmer  under  sedatives 
and  her  daughter's  soothing,  said  the  medical  man, 
"but  Dean  himself  is  in  a  bad  way."  The  surgeon, 
too,  was  tired  and  disgusted,  for  he  had  gone  with  the 
"snipe  column"  ploughing  eight  miles  through  deep 
sand  or  salted  seas  all  practically  for  nothing.  The 
surgeon  more  than  half  thought  Mr.  Dean  deserved 
all  he  had  got,  but  professional  considerations  for 
bade  his  saying  so.  Dean's  first  demand,  it  seems,  on 
getting  aboard  the  Pittsburg  was  for  whiskey,  which, 
said  the  receiving  officer,  with  becoming  gravity, 
"'only  our  doctor  can  supply."  Dean's  conduct  at  first 
had  been  considered  heartless,  but  before  the  landing 
at  Boutelle  it  was  plain  that  Dean  was  a  sick  man, 
body  and  soul,  and  his  son's  gallant  stand  and  heroic 
death  had  gravely  complicated  the  condition.  Dean 
was  now  apparently  unconscious  of  his  own  where 
abouts,  in  an  upper  room  at  Colonel  Blake's,  with  two 
hospital  corps  men  on  watch.  !N"or  had  Dean  been 
told  of  the  prostration  of  his  wife.  "There  is  only 
one  of  them  left  with  wit,"  said  the  doctor,  "and  that, 
despite  her  grief,  is  Gertrude.  By  the  way,  Mrs. 
Blake  would  like  you  to  come  over." 

So  Sandy  went,  thinking  no  longer  of  Blunt  and 
his  possible  troubles  and  seeking  only  to  be  of  service 
to  Mrs.  Blake.  She  had  not  seen  Crabtree,  to  speak 
to,  since  the  return  of  the  command.  She  had  heard 
from  Fethers  that  Crab  had  squeezed  a  platoon  into 
some  bancas  (dugout  canoes)  and  ferried  them  over 


44:  Lieutenant  §>anDp  Hap 

the  deeper  of  the  two  estuaries,  and  thus  left  an  officer 
and  some  thirty  men  to  guard  Sulpicio's  ruined  walls. 
Ray  did  not  envy  the  lieutenant  that  duty,  for  there 
was  little  left  from  all  accounts  to  invite  a  second 
attack.  He  did  not  feel  kindly  toward  Crabtree, 
whose  clumsy  remarks  at  Sandy's  abstinence  still 
rankled — not  because  of  what  Crab  thought  of  that, 
but  what  he  had  dared  to  imply  of  Sandy's  father. 
Hay  had  been  inclined  to  rebuke  Blunt  for  the  story 
told  at  Crabtree's  expense,  but  now  he  was  not. 
"Crabtree  deserved  what  he  got,"  thought  he,  "and  the 
mess  sized  him  up  exactly  right." 

A  native  servant  met  the  lieutenant  at  the  dark 
ened  doorway  and  showed  him  up  to  the  cool,  breezy, 
enclosed  veranda,  on  the  seaward  side.  Mrs.  Blake 
was  with  the  sick  lady,  said  the  mozo,  and  would  be 
out  in  a  moment.  Would  the  Senor  Teniente  have  tea 
or  a  lemonade  ?  The  Senor  would  not.  He  would  wait 
with  patience.  Already,  though  the  noonday  call  had 
not  yet  sounded,  the  striped  curtains  were  fluttering 
in  a  life-giving  breeze  from  the  sea.  The  deep  re 
clining  chairs  of  bamboo  were  cool  and  inviting.  In 
frames  and  easels,  on  the  broad  circular  tables  of 
native  wood,  were  photographs  of  many  a  man  and 
woman  whom  Sandy  knew  and  honored — his  own 
mother,  his  soldier  father  prominent  among  them. 
Ever  since  his  earliest  boyhood  in  Wyoming  he  had 
known  the  Blakes,  often  as  next  door  neighbors,  ever 
as  their  most  intimate  friends.  "Uncle  Gerald"  and 


JUeittenant  §>anDg  map  45 

"Aunt  Nannie"  he  had  been  early  taught  to  call  them. 
aTJnka  Legs"  he  had  once  been  soundly  slippered  for 
hailing  the  long,  lean  captain  who  had  been  for  years 
his  father's  most  cherished  comrade,  and  who  was 
consumed  with  wrath  when  told  what  had  taken  place 
— not  that  Master  Sandy  should  have  been  mischiev-  j 
ous  and  impertinent,  but  that  Marion,  his  mother, 
should  have  spanked  him  for  it.  In  all  the  army  they 
had  known  no  dearer  friends,  and  Sandy's  one  objec 
tion  to  the  promotion  that  carried  him  to  the  regi 
ment  of  which  Colonel  Blake  had  so  recently  assumed 
command,  was  that  "Fellows  will  be  sure  to  say  the 
colonel  will  favor  me  in  every  way  and  forgive  every 
break,  just  on  Dad's  account."  But  when  Sandy 
came  his  colonel  was  going,  and  now  he  was  glad  he 
came  since  Aunt  Nan  had  need  of  him.  But  what 
could  that  need  be  ? 

Before  Ray  had  been  thirty-six  hours  at  the  post 
Blunt  had  told  him  something  of  the  colonel's  abom 
ination  of  Amos  Dean  and  a  little  of  Amos  Dean's 
most  objectionable  insinuations  at  the  expense  of 
Blake  and  his  garrison.  Blunt  did  not  begin  to  know 
them  all.  Ray  was  prepared,  therefore,  to  cold- 
shoulder  the  deputy  in  case  he  met  him,  and  if  the 
deputy  demanded  cause  to  tell  him,  flat-footed,  why. 
But  not  for  a  moment  had  Ray  been  prepared  for 
what  he  quickly  saw  in  Dean's  wife  and  daughter — 
that  they  were  of  gentle  blood,  refined  and  educated, 
which  Amos  Dean  was  not.  Moreover  in  any  social 


&6  Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

circle  they  were  obviously  Dean's  superiors.  Ray 
could  hear  at  intervals  Dean's  raucous  voice  upraised 
in  angry  discussion  with  his  attendants  in  the  room  at 
the  rear  of  the  house.  But  from  the  cool,  dark  cham 
ber  where  lay  the  prostrate  woman,  where  hovered  her 
gentle  daughter  and  their  sympathetic  hostess,  no 
sound  seemed  to  escape.  The  shaded  gallery  almost 
overhung  the  sea,  again  at  high  tide,  and  the  sooth 
ing,  monotonous  plash  of  the  wavelets  upon  the  sand 
seemed  eloquent  of  the  tropic  hour  when  all  nature 
hushes,  inert  and  languid,  in  the  noonday  heat,  when 
every  eyelid  droops  in  deference  to  the  glare  and 
every  unhampered  soul  is  wooed  to  dreamland.  Sandy 
had  thrown  himself  into  one  of  these  great  bamboo 
and  wicker  reclining  chairs  and  lazily  picked  up  a 
more  than  a  month  old  magazine.  But  he  had  been 
about  and  on  duty  all  night  long,  he  had  been  busy  all 
the  morning.  It  was  hardly  a  moment  before  the 
languorous  spell  of  the  hour  and  the  surroundings 
utterly  overcame  him — and  Sandy  slept 

The  average  human  animal,  of  the  male  variety  at 
least,  is  not  picturesque  in  slumber.  The  feline  spe 
cies  has  in  this  respect  far  the  better  of  its  conquerer, 
man.  But  occasionally,  in  youth,  is  found  the  excep 
tion  to  inexorable  rule,  and  Sandy  Ray  had  certain 
advantages.  He  was  slender,  lithe,  daintily  rather 
than  powerfully  built.  He  was  barely  five  feet  six 
in  his  stocking  feet.  His  head  was  well  shaped  and 
thick,  covered  with  dark,  curling,  close-cropped  hair. 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  map  47 

His  features  were  clear-cut  and  regular,  his  mouth 
firm  and  good,  and  he  had  the  gift  of  keeping  it  shut 
when  asleep  and  under  control  when  awake.  But 
Sandy's  eyes,  dark  hazel,  were  after  all  his  best 
feature,  and  they  were  now  shaded  by  lids  that  were 
heavily  fringed  with  long,  curling  lashes  almost  jetty 
black,  eyelashes  that  even  a  Spanish  girl  might  envy. 
He  was  clad  from  head  to  foot  in  snowy  white,  his 
white  cap  and  gloves  were  tossed  upon  the  table  by 
his  side,  and  in  his  cap  lay  a  flat  pocket  case,  in  which 
he  had  been  jotting  memoranda  when  the  surgeon 
happened  along.  One  foot  in  white,  low-cut,  canvas 
shoe  hung  limply  over  the  edge  of  the  bamboo  rest,  the 
other  was  oddly  tucked  under  the  left  knee,  and  with 
the  magazine  fallen  face  downward  upon  the  matting, 
Sandy  had  in  his  last  semi-conscious  moment  turned 
slightly  to  his  right,  and  half  pillowed  his  head  on  the 
glistening  white  sleeve,  as  thoroughly  healthy,  hearty, 
clean-looking  a  lad  as  ever  wore  the  army  blue — a 
very  presentable  picture  and  he  didn't  in  the  least 
know  it. 

"In  the  spring  a  young  man's  fancy,"  etc.,  and  in 
the  spring  of  the  previous  year  Sandy's  fancy  had 
turned  to  thoughts  of  love,  but  not  at  all  lightly.  That 
was  nearly  eighteen  months  agone  and  this  was  late 
autumn.  In  both  love  and  war  he  had  had  his  bap 
tism  of  fire,  and  from  neither  had  he  come  un 
scathed,  for  the  scars  of  one  still  rankled  in  his  soul 
with  a  venom  that  outstung  the  scar  left  by  the  other.. 


48  JLieutenam  San  Dp 

In  both  encounters  Sandy  Hay  had  been  seriously 
wounded,  but  he  was  as  silent  as  to  one  as  to  the  other. 
!N"ot  seventy  miles  from  where  he  now  lay  placidly 
sleeping  he  had  penned  the  rapturous  letter  that  told 
a  devoted  mother  her  boy  loved  blissfully  and  was 
beloved  in  turn.  Then  the  girl  in  the  case  had  mar 
ried  another  man  and  subsequently  eloped  with  still 
another,  and  everybody  who  knew — and  who  of  the 
old  army  did  not? — exclaimed  with  one  impulse, 
"What  a  blessed  escape  for  the  Rays !" 

And  this  was  not  the  sole  experience  that  Sandy 
Ray  had  had  to  sober  and  to  form  him.  Before  he 
had  been  six  months  in  the  service  there  had  been 
stolen  from  his  quarters  at  the  Presidio  a  sum  of 
money  entrusted  to  his  care.  In  part  it  was  govern 
ment  funds,  which  ordinarily  he  would  have  to  re 
place  by  the  comprehensive  process  of  having  his  pay 
stopped  until  the  sum.  was  covered.  But  not  a  little 
of  it  belonged  to  enlisted  men  who  knew  and  needed 
no  better  banker  than  the  son  of  so  beloved  an  officer 
as  Billy  Ray  of  the  old  — th  Cavalry.  His  predica 
ment  was  sore,  but  short  lived.  His  devoted  mother 
was  close  at  hand ;  something  of  her  once  comfortable 
fortune  still  remained,  and  she  had  quickly  drawn  the 
few  thousands  needed  and  replaced  the  missing  sum. 
It  was  not  intemperance  that  led  to  the  mishap,  but 
from  that  day  to  this  the  young  officer  had  seen  fit 
to  be  a  total  abstainer.  From  that  day  until  the  au 
tumn  of  1903,  by  which  time  every  penny  had  been 


Lieutenant  S>anDp  Bap          49 

refunded,  lie  had  managed  to  live  on  half  pay,  yet 
look  like  a  gentleman.  From  that  obligation  he  had 
now  been  only  ten  months  free.  He  did  not  dream 
how  his  manful  stand  and  self-denial  had  augmented 
the  pride  and  faith  and  love  they  had  felt  for  him, 
the  father  and  mother  who  at  first  had  watched  with 
much  solicitude  and  dread ;  for  Sandy,  like  others  of 
his  race  and  name,  had  had  his  laughing,  devil-may- 
care  hours  in  his  younger  days,  his  fling  at  ranch  life 
in  the  far  west,  his  tilt  with  cards  and  wine.  Per 
haps  the  very  thing  needed  to  steady  him  at  the  outset 
of  a  career  sure  to  be  beset  with  temptation,  was  just 
such  an  episode  as  that  that  befell  him  at  the  Pre 
sidio  of  San  Francisco  in  the  year  '98.  Perhaps  the 
very  thing  needed  to  assure  those  who  loved  him  that 
the  lesson  had  taken  firm  root  was  his  trial  and  temp 
tation  in  the  wiles  of  that  beautiful  creature  who  had 
so  bewitched  him.  "If  he  could  keep  steadfast  to  his 
resolution  in  face  of  such  a  facer  as  that/7  said 
Colonel  Kay,  "I'll  back  the  boy  against  Fate  itself." 

And  who  could  blame  the  mother  heart  that,  even 
to  a  greater  extent  after  once  her  doubts  and  fears  had 
been  proved  unjust  and  undeserved,  it  now  centered 
on  her  first  born  as  though  like  some  young  Bayard 
he  had  risen  superior  to  every  test  and  stood  before 
God  and  man  spotless  and  unafraid — without  re 
proach  or  fear  ?  Who  could  marvel  that  big-hearted, 
whimsical,  long-legged  old  Blake  bragged  by  the  hour 
of  "Billy's  boy,"  now  gazetted  to  the  — d,  and  prophe- 


50  Lieutenant  San  Op  Hap 

sied  of  him  that  in  his  new  regiment  whose  motto, 
"Ever  Ready/'  had  flashed  over  every  field  from 
Resaca  to  the  Rosebud,  "from  everglade  to  canon," 
Sandy  Ray  would  win  a  name  like  that  his  father  had 
borne  so  long  in  the  annals  of  their  comrades  of  the 
— th. 

But  the  soldier  of  one  campaign  becomes  betimes 
the  scapegoat  of  another ;  the  belauded  of  one  big  bat 
tle  finds  himself  the  butt  of  press  jibes  and  public 
sneer ;  the  winner  of  a  May  day  joust  turns  up  loser 
in  jSTovember's  fog ;  the  hero  of  a  famous  siege  comes 
home  to  face  the  cry  of  cowardice ;  the  saint  of  a  Sun 
day  gathering  not  so  many  moons  agone  is  now  a  sin 
ner  in  the  stripes  of  Sing  Sing!  Who  can  tell  what 
the  day  may  bring  forth  ?  "Eternal  vigilance  is  the 
price  of  liberty,"  and  virtue  must  now  neither  sleep 
nor  stint,  if  virtue  is  to  find  here  or  hereafter  its  due 
reward. 

Worn  with  the  long  night's  vigil  and  lulled  by  the 
soft  murmur  of  the  breeze,  the  soothing  melody  of  the 
waters,  Sandy  slept  and  never  dreamed  or  stirred 
while  the  curtain  that  draped  the  southward  end  of 
the  gallery  was  slowly,  stealthily  drawn  aside. 


Lieutenant  SanBg  Iftap  si 


CHAPTEK  V. 

BLUNT  came  back  from  the  commanding  officers  in 
no  such  mood  as  he  had  gone.  Blunt  had  been  given 
no  show,  as  he  would  say,  at  any  of  the  plums  in  the 
way  of  stirring  service  that  fell  to  the  lot  of  other 
subalterns  at  the  station.  Blunt  had  got  himself  into 
the  black  list  of  his  post  commander  and  looked  for  a 
wigging  of  some  kind,  not  for  favor.  Blunt  was 
amazed  to  find  his  little  loved  captain  apparently  dis 
dainful  of  past  differences  and  thinking  only  of  pres 
ent  opportunity.  Blunt  had  been  offered  a  chance  he 
longed  for.  Crabtree  wished  him  to  set  forth  that 
very  day  with  a  brace  of  signal  men  and  forty  stout 
American  soldier  hearts  to  scout  the  southward  road, 
clean  out  any  lurking  ladrones  and  open  communica 
tion  with  the  railway.  "They  will  surely  be  reaching 
out  from  below,"  said  he ;  "we  must  meet  them  half 
way,  and  you're  the  man  to  do  it." 

This  from  the  commander  whom  last  night  Blunt 
would  have  shamed,  and  this  morning  could  have 
hated,  well  nigh  took  his  breath  away.  Blunt  was 
stunned  to  silence. 

"Don't  you — want  to  go?"  asked  Crabtree,  In 
amaze. 


52          Lieutenant  San  Dp 

"Don't  I — want? — well,  don't  I  want  more  pay, 
promotion,  anything,  everything,  but  did  I  ever  think 
I'd  get  it  ?  Of  course  I  want  to  go,  sir,  but " 

"Then  there  are  no  buts,  Mr.  Blunt,"  said  Crab- 
tree,  briefly.  "Go  and  get  ready.  I'll  tend  to  the  de 
tails.  Ten  days'  rations,  extra  ammunition  and  the 
best  carts  and  carabaos  we've  got." 

Blunt  went  back  to  his  room  in  a  daze.  He  thought 
to  find  Ray  sleeping,  but  Ray  was  gone.  He  needed 
a  bit  of  friendly  advice — and  aid,  and  though  he  had 
known  Ray  but  a  few  days  he  had  known  of  him  long, 
and  Ray  knew  much  more  about  campaigning  in  the 
tropics  than  did  Blunt  or  his  fellows.  Ray  had  had 
much  of  it :  the  Forty-Second  practically  none.  The 
little  scouting  done  from  Boutelle  had  been  bloodless 
work.  They  went  in  force  and,  wisely,  recalcitrant 
natives  kept  out  of  the  way.  ~Now  it  might  well  be 
different.  JSTow  it  might  well  be  that  they  would  have 
bush  fighting.  Somebody  would  be  hit,  perhaps 
killed,  and  that  somebody  might  be  Blunt  himself.  If 
so  there  were  matters  that  ought  to  be  settled. 

"Hilarious!"  shouted  he,  "Donde  'sta  Teniente 
Ray?"  Blunt's  Spanish  was  of  domestic  manufac 
ture. 

"No  sa-a-abe,"  drawled  the  barefoot  boy  in  white. 

"Well,  Hilarious,  porque  in  hell  don't  you  algo 
tienpo  sa-a-be  something  ?  Vamoose !  Busca !  Pronto ! 
Pronto!" 

And  with  that  the  messenger  departed  and  the  mas- 


Lieutenant  SanBg  Kap  53 

ter,  in  obvious  excitement,  began  pulling  out  the 
drawers  of  a  much  battered  field  desk  and  scattering 
their  contents  over  the  bare  wooden  table. 

It  was  a  bachelor  den  at  best.  Furniture  in  the 
Philippines  was  reduced  to  a  minimum.  A  four 
poster  bedstead,  broad  and  commodious,  stood  at  the 
landward  side  of  the  high  ceilinged  room.  Its 
mosquito  bar  was  gathered  up  for  the  day  and  fes 
tooned  from  the  supporting  cords  by  Hilario's  deft 
and  dusky  hands.  Its  rattan  bottom,  firm  yet 
springy,  was  uncovered,  save  at  the  head  of  the  bed? 
by  sheet  or  counterpane.  Pillows,  sheets,  bolsters  and 
the  single  blanket  were  all  sunning  on  the  back 
veranda.  Not  until  nightfall  would  Hilario  prepare 
his  master's  couch,  and  then  it  little  resembled  any 
thing  of  the  kind  his  master  had  known  at  home. 
Mattress  of  hair  or  spring  there  was  none.  Along 
the  middle  of  the  broad  and  perforated  bottom  was 
stretched  a  thin  pallet,  barely  three  feet  wide  and 
three  inches  in  thickness — a  thing  that  had  once  done 
duty  on  his  master's  camp  cot.  Over  this  and  care 
fully  covering  every  inch  of  the  rattan  bottom  a  broad 
white  sheet  was  snugly  drawn  and  fastened  so  as  to 
exclude  mosquitoes  and  other  tiny  winged  intruders 
from  below.  At  the  head  of  the  bed,  reaching  across 
its  entire  width,  a  stout  cylinder  encased  in  white  did 
duty  for  a  bolster  and  against  this  were  the  pillows 
set,  almost  bolt  upright.  Adown  the  length  of  the 
couch,  against  the  inner  side  of  the  pallet,  extended 


54  Lieutenant  S>anDp 

the  mate  to  the  first  bolster,  the  one  being  known  as 
the  "travesero"  the  other  as  the  "Dutch  wife/'  the 
purpose  of  the  one  being  to  keep  the  pillows  well  up, 
that  of  the  other  to  keep  even  the  light  coverlet  well 
off  the  sleeper,  for  there  were  nights  of  land  breeze 
when  the  lightest  load,  even  a  sheet,  was  a  nuisance. 
Over  pallet  and  "Dutch  wife"  was  spread  a  soft  white 
sheet  and  at  the  bottom  lay  a  thin  woolen  blanket 
ready  lest  the  wind  should  blow  from  the  China  sea. 

That  bedstead,  purchased  of  a  predecessor  at  Bou- 
telle,  was  the  one  pretentious  article  of  furniture.  All 
the  rest,  even  the  lamp  and  center  table,  were  of  the 
simplest  sort,  and  neither  rug  nor  carpet  was  there 
to  be  seen.  A  painted  chest  was  back  against  the 
wall.  Several  barrack  and  two  bamboo  chairs  were 
scattered  about.  A  rude  washstand,  flanked  by  huge 
tin  pitcher  and  bucket,  stood  to  the  left  of  the  entrance 
door.  A  tin  hot  bath,  battered  almost  shapeless,  stood 
shamefaced  beside  the  washstand,  a  tempting  object 
to  impulsive  subalterns  who  had  temper  to  work  off 
and  kicks  to  bestow.  A  calico  curtain,  hung  from  a 
long  rod  at  the  opposite  wall,  and  looped  up  to  let  in 
the  air,  revealed  a  miscellaneous  array  of  khaki  coats 
and  trousers,  two  or  three  dittos  in  white  drilling,  a 
suit  of  olive  drab  and  a  brace  of  campaign  hats,  one 
of  them  weather-beaten.  Then,  hung  on  shoulder 
frames  of  bamboo  and  covered  with  sheeting,  the  uni 
form  blue  coats  for  dress  and  full  dress,  with  two  or 
three  pairs  of  sky-blue  inexpressibles,  one  striped 


Lieutenant  ^anD   ma  55 


with  faded  robin's  egg  mauve,  another  with  creamy 
white.  The  floor  underneath  was  littered  with  foot 
gear  and  leggings  —  patent  leather,  black  calfskin  and 
tan  shooting  boots,  leather  strapped  puttees,  canvas 
drabs,  some  uncouth  slippers  and  one  pair  of  high 
black  boots  of  India  rubber,  provided  with  extension 
legs  that  could  be  drawn  up  over  the  thighs.  Upon 
a  rude  wooden  frame  were  flung  a  raincoat  and  cape, 
a  sabre  belt  or  two  and  some  kind  of  shooting  suit  that 
Blunt  had  accumulated  in  climes  where  birds  were 
plentiful.  He  had  not  seen  so  much  as  a  snipe  in 
Luzon.  A  double-barreled  shot  gun  leaned,  with  a 
companion  Krag,  against  the  bamboo  sheathing  in  the 
southeast  corner.  A  new  sabre  swung  by  its  service 
"slings"  on  the  opposite  wall,  side  by  side  with  the 
antique  "frog  sticker"  he  had  worn  in  the  lively  days 
of  '99,  on  which  well  worn  relic,  by  the  way,  zealous 
customs  officials  demanded  payment  of  duty  even  of 
gentlemen  coming  a  second  time  to  the  island,  on  the 
ground  that  one  sword  was  all  an  officer  could  wear 
and  all  others  were  superfluities.  A  few  prints, 
photographs  and  a  military  map  of  the  island  were 
tacked  here  and  there  to  the  elastic  wall,  and  that  was 
the  visible  extent  of  the  household  goods  and  chattels 
of  a  senior  lieutenant  of  the  line,  serving  in  the  Phil 
ippines  in  1903.  Opening  off  this,  the  main  bed 
room  was  the  smaller  apartment  assigned,  until  he 
should  choose  his  own  quarters,  to  Lieutenant  Ray. 
It  was  some  time  before  Hilario  returned.  He 


56          lieutenant  SanDp  Bap 

came  empty  handed.  He  said  the  Teniente  had  toclos 
vamoosed  and  he  couldn't/find  him.  Blunt  stared  but 
said  nothing.  Ray  would  doubtless  turn  up  at  tiffin 
and  tiffin  was  nearly  due.  He  was  busy  at  the  mo 
ment  searching  for  one  or  two  papers  he  thought  to 
find  in  the  field  desk,  but  could  not.  He  scribbled 
an  order  on  the  post  commissary  for  certain  supplies 
he  needed  for  his  field  mess  chest  and  despatched 
Hilario  with  orders  to  fetch  the  stores  at  once  and 
keep  a  lookout  for  Lieutenant  Ray.  He  was  still 
busy  searching  through  and  nervously  tossing  aside 
folded  paper  after  paper  when  the  adjutant's  voice 
was  heard  at  the  gate,  and  in  came  Fethers,  just  to 
see  how  Blunt  was  getting  on.  Captain  Crabtree  had 
told  him  to  ask  if  there  was  anything  he,  Crab,  could 
do,  which  sounded  very  magnanimous  to  Fethers,  and 
very  empty  to  Blunt. 

"I  thank  him,  no/'  said  Blunt,  decisively.  "He 
has  done  quite  enough  in  giving  me  this  chance/7 

"He  said/7  quoth  Fethers,  with  slow  significance, 
"you  seemed — er — reluctant  to  go." 

Blunt  flushed  hotly.  "That's  a  contemptible  way 
of  putting  it,"  he  burst  forth,  impetuous  and  angry. 
"He  knows  well  I  want  to  go,  and  have  been  wanting 
to  go  right  along,  but  he  doesn't  know  and  can't  be 
expected  to  know  that  there  are  things  I'd  like  to  set 
tle  before  I  go."  Then  with  sudden  resolution,  yet 
coloring  with  embarrassment:  "Fethers,  every  man 
in  my  own  regiment  here  is  deep  in  debt — all  owing 


Lieutenant  §>anBg  Bap          sr 

to  that  damned  uniform  order — every  man  except,  of 
course,  Crabtree,  whom  I  won't  ask.  Can  you  lend 
me  a  hundred  dollars  ?" 

Fethers  possibly  knew  what  was  coming.  Fethers 
as  adjutant  had  seen  something  of  the  reminders  cer 
tain  creditors  were  sending  officers  of  the  line  who 
had  had  to  provide  themselves  with  a  huge  outfit  of 
new  regulation  clothing,  equipment,  etc.,  provide  for 
their  families,  and  pay  their  own  heavy  mess  bills  on 
the  weary  way  over.  Fethers,  could  he  have  had  his 
way,  would  have  turned  back  every  missive  of  the 
kind  that  came  from  department  to  post  headquar 
ters,  but  Fethers  was  but  human.  He  at  least  had  no 
debts  to  pay,  and  a  small  balance  at  a  home  bank,  but 
there  he  meant  to  hold  his  nestegg.  He  "couldn't 
without  serious  inconvenience,"  he  replied,  in  much 
embarrassment,  and  Blunt  marveled  that  he  had  ever 
asked.  "Don't  think  about  it  again/7  he  said.  "I'll 
raise  it  somehow,  only  there  isn't  much  time,  as  we 
start  so  soon."  So  Fethers,  breathing  freer,  yet  feel 
ing  mean,  made  his  escape.  He  told  no  man  at  the 
time  of  Blunt's  bungling  request,  but — he  remem 
bered. 

Not  twenty  minutes  later  Sandy  Eay,  whom 
Hilario  had  been  unable  to  find,  came  briskly  in.  The 
wind  had  freshened,  the  sea  had  begun  to  respond, 
and  he  brought  with  him  a  glisten  of  salt  spray  on  the 
visor  of  his  white  cap.  Blunt  looked  up  with  a  grin. 
"Been  over  to  see.  your  refugees,  I  see,"  said  he,  and 


58  Lieutenant  San  Dp 

was  surprised  to  note  that  a  shade  seemed  instantly  to 
fall  on  Sandy's  frank  and  soldierly  face.  "Beg  par 
don/'  went  on  his  host,  in  hurried  apology.  "I  didn't 
mean  to  pry  into  your  affairs.  The  moisture  on  the 
visor  said  you  were  just  from  the  shore  and  the 
colonel's  quarters  are  the  only  ones  close  enough. 
Sherlock  Holmes,  you  know." 

"Oh,  that's  all  right,"  answered  the  cavalryman, 
promptly,  still  with  slight  constraint.  "I've  had — 
Mrs.  Blake  was  asking  me — why,  what  on  earth  have 
you  been  doing?"  And  Ray's  eyes  went  flashing 
over  the  littered  table  and  disordered  desk. 

"Off  for  a  hike,"  was  the  brief  reply.  "Start  in 
two  hours  or  less,  and  I've  got  to  straighten  out  some 
papers.  Damn  that  Hilarious;  what  keeps  him  so 
long?"  and  Blunt  sprang  up  and  strode  to  the  door 
way.  Sandy  passed  on  into  his  room  and  presently 
came  forth  as  Blunt  re-entered.  Blunt  saw  perplex 
ity,  anxiety,  trouble  in  the  fine  face  before  him.  "You 
bothered,  too  ?"  he  asked. 

"Mislaid  a  pocketbook  somewhere,"  answered  the 
visitor,  briefly.  "Funny  thing  'bout  it  is  I  thought 
I  had  it  when  I  went  over  there.  Dr.  Scammon  said 
Mrs.  Blake  wished  to  see  me." 

"Anything  of — consequence  ?"  asked  Blunt,  with 
certain  significance  in  tone. 

"Well,  yes,  rather,"  hesitated  Ray.  He  had  pulled 
off  his  gloves  and  cap,  and  was  now  mopping  a  moist 
forehead. 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Jaa?          59 

"Cash?"  queried  Blunt. 

"Not  much.  Don't  carry  any  as  a  rule.  Bank 
what  little  I've  got." 

"  'Nough  to  lend  a  hundred  dollars  to  a  man  you 
don't  know  from  Adam  ?"  asked  Blunt,  sturdily,  yet 
ruefully. 

"If  it's  you,  yes,"  said  Eay.  "Want  to  use  it 
here?" 

"ISTope — New  York,  and  it's  a  damned  gouge,  but 
—I'd — promised." 

"Fix  that  easy  ?nough,"  clipped  Mr.  Ray,  cheer 
fully.  "Give  you  a  cheque  right  now,"  and  forget 
ting  for  a  moment  the  previous  quest,  darted  into  his 
room  and  came  back  with  his  cheque-book. 

"Hundred  enough  ?"  he  asked. 

"Not  by  several,  but  it's  all  I'll  take — or  send,  and 
Fm  ashamed — no,  I'm  not,  for  it  isn't  my  fault! — 
I'm  disgusted  to  ask  for  it,  but  there  isn't  a  man  of 
ours  with  an  unmortgaged  dollar  'cept  Crab,  and  I 
can't  ask  him." 

"If  two  hundred  would  help,"  began  Ray,  slowly, 
for  he  was  in  doubt.  He  had  but  three. 

"It  would,  Ray,  and  it  wouldn't.    It's  kind  of  you, 

but  I  can't  take  it.     One  hundred  I   must   take   or 
» 

"The  commanding  officer's  compliments,  sir,  and 
desires  to  see  Lieutenant  Blunt,"  came  the  announce 
ment  of  that  precise  orderly  at  the  door. 

"Coming  directly,"  answered  Blunt,  and  reached 


eo  Lieutenant  ®anDg 

for  his  hat.  It  dislodged  some  papers  as  it  was 
whisked  from  the  table.  "That's  the  hell  of  these 
post  commanders  pro  tern/'  said  Blunt.  "The  colonel 
now,  after  once  sending  for  me,  would  stop  in  on  his 
way  to  tiffin,  or  speak  to  me  there,  knowing  the  lot 
he's  given  me  to  do,  but  these  accidentals  must  im 
press  you  with  their  consequence,  and  so  they  make 
you  come  and  dance  attendance  at  the  office.  I'll  be 
back  in  a  minute." 

Eay  thoughtfully  bent  and  picked  up  the  papers 
that  had  gone  fluttering  to  the  floor — two  or  three 
loose  half  sheets.  Then  there  was  one  little  packet, 
rubber  snapped  together,  that  had  plumped  on  the 
wooden  boarding  like  a  shot  on  a  drum.  He  was  try 
ing  to  rearrange  them  when  a  footstep  in  the  front 
room  caused  him  to  look  up.  Lieutenant  Walker 
stood  at  the  inner  doorway,  silently  observing  him. 
"Don't  let  me  intrude,"  said  he.  "Where's  Blunt  ? 
I — want  to  catch  him  before  he  goes." 

"Over  at  the  office,"  answered  Sandy,  briefly, 
noting  the  while  that  Walker's  eyes  were  on  the 
cheque  book,  and  wondering  if  he  had  any  claim  on 
Blunt.  Walker  turned  and  vanished.  Eay  returned 
to  his  task.  He  could  not  help  it,  that  a  line  at  the 
top  of  a  page  caught  his  eye.  He  could  help  it  still 
less  that  it  gave  him  something  of  a  start.  But 
Hilario  shuffled  in  at  the  moment,  laden  with  a  box 
ful  of  tins  and  jars  from  the  commissary.  He  never 
so  much  as  glanced  at  the  young  officer  after  enter- 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap          6i 

ing,  but  went  swiftly  about  his  work,  and  Kay,  after 
a  moment,  stowed  the  papers  in  a  vacant  pigeon-hole, 
and  sauntered  out  upon  the  veranda,  where  the  sea 
breeze  was  blowing  finely.  He  needed  to  think. 

There  had  been  comment,  it  seems,  on  Mrs.  Blake'a 
remaining  practically  alone  in  her  spacious  quarters 
when  the  colonel  hurried  off  to  Manila.  True,  she 
had  with  her  a  worthy  couple  who  had  been  of  their 
army  household  ever  since  the  honeymoon  days  of  the 
long  ago.  The  wife  had  been  her  first  housemaid  at 
old  Fort  Russell,  and  that  lively  young  creature,  after 
breaking  supposedly  non-commissioned  hearts  about 
the  post,  had  been  wooed  and  won  by  an  Irish  son  of 
Mars  who  had  followed  the  guidon  of  Blake's  troop 
half  across  the  continent.  Corporal  Moon  had  taken 
his  discharge  from  the  service  of  Uncle  Sam  in  course 
of  years  and  entered  that  of  the  Blakes,  and  though 
now  well  along  in  years,  the  Moons  had  never  fal 
tered  in  their  allegiance.  Mrs.  Blake  was  as  safe, 
with  them  to  watch  her,  as  she  would  be  with  a  royal 
bodyguard,  but  the  few  women  at  Boutelle  wondered 
at  her  not  wanting  to  go  to  Manila. 

She  had  her  own  reasons  for  that.  She  had  been 
there  twice  and  had  much  enjoyed  many  features  of 
the  first  visit  and  a  few  of  the  second,  but  the  army 
friends  they  had  visited  were  no  longer  there.  The 
brief  experience  she  had  once  had  in  a  Manila  hotel 
was  discouraging.  There  was  nothing  new  going  on 
and  Gerald,  her  husband,  might  only  be  detained  a 


62          Lieutenant  §>anDp 

week.  Altogether,  Mrs.  Blake  decided  not  to  go,  and 
now  was  glad,  for  she  was  here  to  help  two  people,  at 
least,  whose  sorrowful  plight  much  appealed  to  her. 
It  was  after  a  conference  with  Dr.  Scammon  that  she 
sent  for  Ray  in  perplexity  as  to  what  course  should 
be  pursued  with  Dean.  Scammon  said  his  proper 
place  was  a  room  in  the  hospital,  if  not  the  guard 
house.  Mrs.  Dean  had  hysterically  declared  that 
wherever  her  husband  went  she  must  follow.  Ger 
trude  had  said  nothing,  but  it  was  evident  that  she 
would  share  her  mother's  fortunes  whatever  they 
might  be.  Some  few  minutes,  therefore,  after  San 
dy's  coming  had  been  announced,  Mrs.  Blake  had 
gratefully  acceded  to  the  girl's  half  timid  suggestion 
that  she  go  to  her  father's  bedside  a  few  minutes ;  she 
might  be  able  to  quiet  and  comfort  him.  And  now 
Mrs.  Blake  had  opportunity  for  a  word  or  two  alone 
with  Mrs.  Dean. 

And  so  Sandy  had  waited,  and  fallen  asleep,  and 
then,  awaking  suddenly  from  his  siesta,  was  as  sud 
denly  conscious  that  some  one  had  been  hovering 
about  his  chair,  of  having  surely  felt  the  light  touch 
of  finger  tips  upon  his  left  arm,  and  thinking  it  was 
Mrs.  Blake,  had  stirred  lazily  like  the  spoiled  boy  he 
was,  stretched,  yawned,  opened  his  eyes  at  sound  of 
fluttering  skirt  and  hurried  footfall,  and  then  saw  a 
slender,  white-clad  form  just  vanishing  into  the  broad 
hallway  and  beyond  his  sight. 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Bap 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

JUST  as  Blunt  had  prophesied,  the  "cabal"  against 
the  post  commander  had  come  to  a  head  at  the  mess, 
and  Blunt  was  not  there  to  see.  On  the  previous 
afternoon  that  outspoken  young  officer,  with  his  little 
force,  despite  the  fatiguing  experience  of  the  sand 
march  to  Sulpicio  and  back,  had  gone  striding 
sturdily  away  southward,  followed  until  out  of  sight 
in  the  fringing  bamboo  by  many  an  anxious  eye  at 
the  post,  and  by  many  a  furtive  glance  from  the 
dusky  faces  in  the  neighboring  barrio.  Parade  had 
been  dispensed  with.  The  officers  of  the  mess,  minus 
the  senior,  assembled  at  the  stated  time,  some  in 
white,  some  in  freshly  ironed  'khaki,  all  in  rather 
silent  mood,  which  in  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  is 
ominous  of  ill  for  somebody. 

2vTot  until  the  last  man  had  straggled  up  the  wooden 
steps  did  Captain  Crabtree  permit  himself  to  appear 
in  his  own  doorway,  looking  very  cool  and  spick  and 
span  in  snowy  raiment,  white  cap,  shoes  and  gloves. 
Mess  call  had  sounded  sharp  on  time,  and  the  mess, 
the  mess  boys  and  the  dinner  were  waiting.  With 
the  eyes  of  his  juniors  upon  him,  Crabtree  sauntered 
airily  down  the  walk,  doffed  his  cap  to  Mrs.  Fethers, 


64  Lieutenant  S>anDp 

and  leaning  on  the  fence,  entertained  that  unappre- 
ciative  young  matron  with  a  few  remarks  about  the 
loveliness  of  the  day  and  the  delight  of  the  sea  breeze, 
to  all  of  which,  with  an  eye  on  the  assembled  mess, 
she  responded  but  feebly.  Then  he  tacked  across  the 
shell  road  at  sight  of  Chaplain  and  Mrs.  Stanhope 
returning  from  a  call,  and  stopped  again  to  converse 
affably  with  them,  whereat  the  mess  set  its  teeth  and 
said  things  not  intended  for  the  ears  of  mess  servants. 
Then  he  came  placidly  along  until  within  a  hundred 
paces  of  the  angering  group  of  juniors,  and  there  de 
liberately  stood  and  questioned  a  sergeant  whom  he 
beckoned  from  the  seaward  gate,  and  then  to  the 
fuming  wrath  of  his  messmates  turned  away  with  the 
non-commissioned  officer  in  attendance  and  as  delib 
erately  walked  to  that  gate  as  though  some  matter  of 
importance  called  him  thither.  Then  muttered  blas 
phemy  was  heard  at  the  bungalow  and  one  or  two  offi 
cers  bolted  within  doors,  and  then  who  should  come 
along,  bound  for  a  stroll  on  the  beach  before  dark,  but 
Mrs.  Shane  and  her  well  disciplined  lord.  And  then, 
finally,  not  over  at  the  adjutant's  office,  but  some 
where  about  the  mess  building  or  enclosure,  loud  and 
clear  again  did  mess  call  sound  upon  the  evening  air, 
and  the  sea  breeze  blew  Mrs.  Shane's  laughing,  pro 
voking  comment  more  than  half  way  back  to  the 
startled  group  on  the  veranda. 

"That's  for  you,  Mr.  Post  Commander,"  cried  she 
of  the  sparkling  eyes.     "And  all  for  keeping  those 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap  65 

poor  hungry  fellows  waiting/'  and  Crabby's  face  was 
a  sight  to  see.  He  feigned  to  be  deaf  to  her  remarks 
and  absorbed  in  what  two  soldiers  were  telling  him, 
but  many  a  body  had  heard  and  so  had  he.  It  would 
never  do  now  to  break  instantly  away.  It  was  his  role 
to  calmly  finish  his  conversation ;  then  as  calmly  and 
relentlessly  to  investigate.  They  who  had  proposed 
taking  seats  and  going  on  with  dinner  without  their 
senior  were  glad  on  the  whole  that  they  were  over 
ruled,  for  Crab's  face  was  gray  with  wrath  when  he 
reached  the  steps. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  began,  awho  ordered  that  call 
sounded  ?" 

And  no  man  answered.  Silent,  embarrassed,  but 
by  no  means  abashed,  they  stood  before  him. 

"You  perfectly  well  realize  that  none  of  our  trum 
peters  dare  play  such  a  trick  unless  some  officer  stands 
sponsor/'  snapped  Crabtree,  aand  so  I  repeat,  if  all 
are  here,  who  ordered  that  call  sounded  ?" 

And  still  there  was  no  reply. 

"Mr.  Ray,"  began  Crab  again,  "you  have  so  re 
cently  come  among  us  that  I  cannot  in  mind  associate 
you  with  this  deliberate  affront  to  the  commanding 
officer,  but  I  shall  ask  you  first,  as  the  sole  representa 
tive  here  this  evening  of  the  cavalry  service,  whether 
you  know  who  ordered  the  trumpeter  to  sound  that 
call  ?" 

"I  do  not,  sir,"  said  Sandy,  very  simply. 

"Captain  Prince,  do  you  ?" 


66  Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

"Beyond  the  fact  that  I  heard  the  call  I  know  noth 
ing  about  it  whatever,  sir,"  was  the  captain's  uncom 
promising  reply.  And  thus  in  succession  did  Crab- 
tree  accost  each  one  of  the  mess  then  present,  and 
angering,  though  with  such  respect  as  they  could  com 
mand,  they  answered  no.  Whereupon  when  the  last 
man,  the  native  butler,  was  questioned  and  the  same 
negative  was  given  by  him,  the  commander  drooped 
with  the  heavy  weight  of  his  defeat,  and  saying: 
"This  is  most  extraordinary,  gentlemen,  and  of  course 
cannot  end  here/7  signalled  that  they  should  take  their 
seats,  but  turned  himself  to  his  orderly  and  sent  for 
the  sergeant  major. 

Dinner  went  off  in  constrained  silence.  Conver 
sation  was  impossible.  There  being  no  guests  there 
was  no  wine.  Even  the  cheap  claret  so  readily  ob 
tained  in  Manila  was  considered  inappropriate  in 
view  of  the  fact  that,  four  out  of  five,  the  members 
still  had  their  mess  clothes  to  pay  for.  When  the 
sergeant  major  came  the  captain  punctiliously  ex 
cused  himself  to  his  fellows  and  went  with  the  non 
commissioned  officer  to  the  porch.  He  wished  the 
name  of  the  trumpeter  who  sounded  the  call  and  the 
sergeant-major  could  not  tell  him.  "I  had  every 
mother's  son  of  'em  up,  captain,  and  every  one  flatly 
denied  it.  Moreover,  there's  not  one  of  them  who 
can't  prove  he  was  nowhere  near  the  mess  this  night." 

"There's  been  some  tremendous  lying  somewhere," 
thought  Crabtree,  "and  it's  too  much  for  me."  Imme- 


JUeutenant  SanOg  Bag          er 

diately  after  coffee  was  served  and  without  taking  the 
floor  and  starting  his  customary  talk,  Crabtree  early 
left  the  mess  and  began  further  investigation,  and  not 
a  thing  did  he  really  discover  to  throw  light  on  the 
occurrence. 

Beyond  a  mere  line  to  the  effect  that  they  had 
bivouacked  at  San  Sulpicio  and  would  resume  the 
march  soon  after  dawn,  not  a  word  came  from  Blunt 
on  the  following  day.  J^ot  a  word  did  the  post  com 
mander  learn  as  to  the  perpetrator  of  last  night's  in 
dignity.  So,  this  evening,  parade  was  ordered.  Thi& 
evening  mess  call  was  sounded  at  the  adjutant's  office 
as  before.  This  evening  the  officers  assembled  as  they 
did  twenty-four  hours  earlier,  and  this  evening  Crab 
dawdled  as  he  did  the  previous  day,  even  to  going  to 
the  westward  gate.  When  he  finally  approached  the 
mess  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  veranda  vacant. 
When  he  entered  the  mess  room  he  was  amazed  to  find 
the  officers  seated  and  at  their  soup.  At  his  entrance 
and  before  he  could  open  his  lips  to  speak,  they 
promptly  and  silently  arose  and  stood  attention. 

"Gentlemen,"  began  Crabtree,  "this  is  a  discour 
tesy  to  your  commanding  officer,"  to  which  no  one  re 
sponded.  "We  will  take  this,  in  connection  with 
other  matters,  up  later."  Then  as  he  dropped  into  his 
chair  they  gravely  followed  suit,  resumed  their  seats 
and  a  lively  conversation  which  did  not  seem  to  in 
clude  their  chief.  Crabtree  could  hardly  believe  the 
evidence  of  his  senses. 


68          jUeutenant 

Coffee  having  been  served  and  everybody  about 
ready  to  go,  Captain  Prince,  at  the  opposite  end  of 
the  table,  looked  to  his  one  superior  present  for  the 
expected  signal,  but  Crabtree  was  intent  on  action  and 
vengeance.  "The  waiters  will  withdraw,"  said  he, 
which  they  did  not  at  all  understand,  so  Prince 
glanced  over  his  shoulder,  briefly  added  "Vamoose," 
and  this  was  explicit. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Crab,  "I  now  desire  explanation 
of  your  most  extraordinary  behavior — of  this  appar 
ently  deliberate  affront  to  the  commahnding  officer." 

"Captain  Crabtree,"  said  Captain  Prince,  rising 
with  much  deliberation  and  with  consummate  sang 
froid — there  was  not  a  year's  difference  in  the  date  of 
their  commissions — "I  am  designated  to  answer  for 
the  mess,  and  the  answer  is  this :  In  all  official  matters 
we  obey  you  without  question.  In  social  matters  we 
have  rights  equal  to  your  own.  You  have  formulated 
a  set  of  rules  that,  in  spite  of  our  objections,  we  might 
have  observed  but  for  the  fact  that  you  were  the  first 
and  most  persistent  violator.  In  plain  language, 
Captain  Crabtree,  the  mess  declines  to  be  bound  by 
rules  that  you  break  at  will."  Whereupon,  in  decor 
ous  silence  and  with  much  deliberation  every  man  ex 
cept  the  post  commander  arose,  some  lighted  cigars  or 
cigarettes  and  all  sauntered  forth  upon  the  veranda. 

Over  across  the  way  a  silvery  laugh  pealed  on  the 
breathless  evening  air,  and  Crabtree,  amazed,  en 
raged,  yet  vaguely  conscious  that  he  had  overstepped 


Lieutenant  ^anOg  Kap  69 


the  limits  of  his  authority,  found  new  fuel  for  the 
flame  of  his  anger  in  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Shane  had 
surely  been  taken  into  the  confidence  of  some  of  the 
mess  and  was  there  to  witness  the  revolt.  Such  a 
thing  had  never  been  heard  of  in  all  his  experience. 
Crabtree  sprang  to  his  feet,  called  Captain  Prince  to 
follow  him,  sent  his  orderly  for  the  post  adjutant,  and 
never  noticing  the  silent  salute  with  which  he  was 
scrupulously  favored,  hurried  straightway  to  his  quar 
ters,  leaving  the  field  to  the  conspirators. 

"Ever  stumble  on  the  likes  of  this  before  ?"  asked 
Mr.  Walker  of  Sandy  Ray,  who,  speechless  and  trou 
bled,  stood  at  the  edge  of  the  veranda,  gazing  out  over 
the  now  moonlit  sea. 

Ray  shook  his  head.  He  had  been  brought  up  in 
the  army.  He  believed  in  discipline  and  had  never 
before  seen  a  commander  humiliated  by  his  officers. 
"Tell  me  one  thing,"  said  he.  "Hasn't  Captain  Crab- 
tree  a  right  to  the  belief  that  there  has  been  sneak 
work  somewhere  ?  Some  one  must  have  lied  about 
that  call.7' 

"No  one  lied,"  answered  Walker,  promptly.  "Crab 

/  asked  who  of  our  number  ordered  it  sounded.    No  one 

ordered.     Then  he  ordered  the  trumpeter  found  and 

they  couldn't  find.    'Cause  why  —  no  one  of  the  trum 

peters  had  anything  to  do  with  it." 

"One  of  the  waiters  then?"  queried  Sandy,  meas 
urably  relieved.  Many  of  the  natives  were  far  bet 
ter  buglers  than  were  those  of  the  Forty-Second,  and 


70  Lieutenant 

coming  from  one  of  these,  an  ignorant  son  of  the  soil, 
the  affront  or  indignity  would  have  lost  most  of  its 
sting. 

"Waiters  nothing/'  answered  Mr.  Walker. 
"There's  been  no  sneak  work  whatever,  either.  No 
one  was  ordered  to  sound  that  call.  The  sounder  did 
it  of  his  own  free  will  and  accord,  and  Crab  hasn't  wit 
enough  to  guess.  When  the  row  blows  over  I'll  tell 
him  who  blew.  So  don't  you  worry,  Mr.  Kay."  And 
with  his  hands  in  his  pockets  and  his  head  high  in  air, 
Mr.  Walker  took  himself  off.  It  was  not  good  that 
this  new  comer  from  the  cavalry  should  insinuate 
sneak  work  on  so  small  a  basis,  and  Sandy  saw  the 
point  and  started  after  his  fellow  subaltern  to  offer 
prompt  apology. 

In  high  dudgeon,  apparently,  Mr.  Walker  had  flung 
himself  down  the  steps  and  away  to  the  westward 
gate  that  opened  on  the  sea.  In  much  concern  Sandy 
followed  and  even  called  after  Walker's  swift-fading 
form.  In  a  moment  the  pursued  had  turned  sharp  to 
his  right  and  was  speedily  shut  from  view  by  the 
south  wing  of  the  spacious  quarters  assigned  to 
Colonel  Blake.  And  still  Sandy  followed.  A  mo 
ment  later  he  was  surprised  to  come  suddenly  upon 
his  quarry,  halted  in  front  of  Blake's  broad  and 
roomy  double  doorway.  He  saw  Lieutenant  Walker 
gazing  up  to  the  half  open  lattice  on  the  second  floor 
where  the  breezy  veranda,  after  the  fashion  of  the 
Philippines,  almost  half  overhung  the  walk  below. 


Lieutenant  San  Op  map  n 

He  saw  in  the  moonlight  a  slender  form,  a  white, 
appealing  face,  and  he  heard  in  pleading  tones — 
tones  which  spoke  of  sorrow  and  sore  anxiety — these 
hurried  words:  "I'll  be  right  down  if  you'll  only 
wait,"  whereupon  the  white-robed  form  at  the  lattice 
shot  from  view,  and,  barely  five  seconds  later,  the 
white-clad  subaltern  underneath  half  turned  and 
glanced  along  the  sea  walk,  caught  sight  of  Raj 
swift  advancing,  and  instantly  turned  again  and 
strode  huffily  away,  disappearing  beyond  the  north 
ward  corner. 

Which  was  how  it  happened  that  as  Ray  reached 
the  entrance  he  came  suddenly  almost  face  to  face 
with  that  slender  girl,  little  over  seventeen,  with  a 
world  of  woe  in  her  dark  and  lustrous  eyes,  with  ap 
peal  and  distress  quivering  upon  her  pallid  lips.  It 
was  the  girl  he  had  helped  carry  from  the  shore  to 
Mrs.  Blake's  salon,  Gertrude  Dean,  and  at  sight  of 
him,  by  no  means  the  man  she  had  hastened  to  see, 
the  child  recoiled  startled.  "Was  it  you/7  she  cried. 
"Oh,  I  didn't  mean — I  thought "  And  she  cov 
ered  her  face  in  her  fragile  hands  and  fairly  reeled 
against  the  stone  doorway,  unnerved,  almost  undone. 

"It  was  Mr.  Walker,"  answered  Ray,  soothingly. 
"Let  me  help  you  upstairs,  Miss  Dean.  You  are  far 
from  strong  or  well,"  and  he  would  have  drawn  her 
forth  and  thrown  the  other  arm  about  her,  but  she 
shrank  and  sobbed : 


72  Lieutenant  San  Dp 

<CI  must  speak  with  him,"  she  cried.  "He  was 
Harry's  friend."  And  then  Ray  took  alarm,  so  vio 
lent  was  her  distress.  As  she  could  neither  go  nor 
suffer  herself  to  be  led,  he  hurried  through  the  tun 
nel-like  entrance  and  up  the  bordering  stairway  to  the 
second  floor  in  hopes  of  finding  Mrs.  Blake.  Voices 
were  again  audible — angry  voices — in  the  room  occu 
pied  by  the  elder  Dean — not  yet  had  the  doctor  suc 
ceeded  in  his  scheme  to  get  him  out  of  the  house  and 
over  to  hospital — but  nowhere  could  Hay  see  any 
thing  of  her  whom  he  sought.  A  lamp  burned  dimly 
in  the  dining  room  beyond  and  the  broad  way  to  the 
kitchen  gallery  stood  open,  so  thither  he  hastened. 
Vain !  There  were  smouldering  embers  on  the  quaint 
Philippine  open  range,  but  not  a  servant  was  visible. 
He  could  hear  them  gossiping  in  the  court  below.  He 
would  not  tap  at  the  invalid's  door;  that  might 
awaken  her,  and  he  inferred  that  she  must  be  sleep 
ing  since  Gertrude  was  at  large.  He  ran  again 
down  stairs,  intending  to  be  very  positive  and  per 
emptory,  even  if  he  had  to  carry  her,  to  bring  Miss 
Dean,  if  a  possible  thing,  back  to  her  senses  and  the 
second  story. 

But  when  he  reached  the  ground  floor  again  Miss 
Dean  was  gone.  On  the  stone  flagging,  just  where 
she  stood  a  moment  before  in  all  the  abandonment  of 
her  grief,  some  dark  object  caught  his  eye  and  he 
stooped  and  picked  it  up,  carried  it  into  the  bright 


Lieutenant  SanDg  dap 

moonshine  at  the  entrance  and  found  himself  staring 
stupidly  at  the  cover  of  the  pocket  note  book  missing 
since  the  second  day  before — the  book  only,  for  all  the 
contents,  like  the  girl,  were  gone. 


74  Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ANOTHER  day  had  dawned  on  Camp  Boutelle,  and 
though  earth  and  sea  and  sky  were  all  that  were  beau 
tiful,  the  indications  as  to  matters  military  and  do 
mestic  seemed  set  for  storm.  Captain  Crabtree  and 
his  second  in  temporary  command,  Captain  Prince, 
had  come  to  words  if  not  to  blows.  Captain  Prince 
had  told  the  post,  and  would-be  mess,  commander 
that  he  for  one  would  no  longer  sit  at  meal  with  such  a 
crank — that  was  the  exact  descriptive — and  for  the 
first  time  it  began  to  dawn  on  Crabtree  that  mess  con 
ditions  in  the  army  of  a  blooming  republic,  and  in 
that  of  a  magnificent  old  monarchy,  not  only  never 
had  been  in  accord,  but,  in  this  day  and  generation 
at  least,  never  would  be.  Nothing  in  the  customs  and 
traditions  of  our  democratic  service  gave  the  faintest 
precedent  for  his  action,  while  almost  everything  in 
the  methods  of  the  British  Army  had  seemed  to  point 
his  way.  Crab  had  gone  so  far,  when  Major  For 
rest  presided  and  the  arriving  officers  of  the  Forty- 
Second  had  joined  the  mess,  as  to  urge  that  the  junior 
lieutenant  should  sit  at  the  opposite  end  of  the  board, 
facing  the  senior  officer  and  should  be  addressed  as 
"Mr.  Vice,"  but  neither  Forrest  nor  any  one  else  con- 


jUeittenant  SanDg  Kap  75 

curred.  That,  said  Forrest,  was  the  caterer's  seat, 
and  whoever  was  caterer  for  the  month  should  sit 
there  where  he  could  most  readily  control  the  waiters. 
Prince  happened  to  occupy  that  important  chair  when, 
the  cavalry  was  hurried  away,  and  Prince  had  flatly; 
told  his  commanding  officer,  as  one  of  the  "bugle  in 
vestigation/'  that  he  would  sit  there  no  longer,  nor 
would  he  occupy  any  seat  at  the  mess  until  Crabtree 
withdrew  his  obnoxious  laws — or  himself.  Crab,  of 
course,  would  submit,  he  said,  to  no  dictation  from  his 
juniors.  Prince  turned  over  the  keys  and  accounts 
as  caterer  to  Lieutenant  Belden,  the  treasurer ;  break 
fasted  at  his  own  quarters  from  his  own  company's 
table ;  accepted  Mrs.  Shane's  invitation  for  tiffin  and 
the  Stanhopes  for  dinner.  Almost  every  man  of  the 
mess  had  finished  breakfast  and  gone  before  the  com 
manding  officer  appeared  with  visage  as  black  as  the 
thunder  clouds  that  came  billowing  sometimes  from 
the  China  Sea.  The  two  officers  present  looked  up, 
sprang  up  (a  thing  hitherto  never  even  thought  of), 
said  in  suspicious  unison  "Good  morning,  sir,"  sol 
emnly  retook  their  seats  and  with  equal  or  greater 
solemnity,  Crab  took  his.  One  of  his  preachments 
had  been  that  gentlemen  at  mess  should  avoid  all  dis 
turbing  or  "shoppy"  talk.  The  conversation  should 
be  joyous,  spirited,  gay,  and  to  this  end  Crab  gen 
erally  essayed  to  lead  it.  To-day  he  spoke  not  at  all. 
The  more  he  probed  that  bugle  business  the  deeper 
he  found  the  mystery.  Every  bugler,  as  the  sergeant 


V6  Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

said,  established  an  alibi.  The  bandsmen  were  all 
otherwise  accounted  for.  The  Filipino  mess  men,  as 
was  to  be  expected,  ano  sa-a-abe'd"  every  tentative, 
and  yet  Crab  could  swear  the  call  was  sounded  some 
where  about  the  mess  bungalow,  probably  the  back 
piazza.  If  so  the  perpetrator  must  be  known  to  some 
at  least  of  the  servants,  yet  all  said  nay. 

And  Crab  had  other  worries.  Prince's  defection, 
might  lead  to  more.  Suppose,  for  instance,  that 
Belden,  Burdick,  Hikeman,  Ray,  Walker,  et  als.  were 
quietly  to  quit  the  mess.  Suppose — well,  the  more 
Crab  thought  of  it  the  uglier  it  looked.  What  was 
there  in  law  and  regulations  to  prevent  the  seceders 
starting  another,  or  boarding  around,  or  living  on 
company  rations  at  nine  dollars  the  month  if  they  so 
elected  ?  Many  an  officer  in  old  army  days,  as  Crab 
had  often  heard,  had  had  to  "live  with  the  company" 
when  serving  at  lone,  isolated  places  on  the  plains. 
Mess  affairs  were  indeed  in  a  mess,  and  that  was  by 
no  means  all.  Blunt  had  now  been  gone  two  days  and 
two  nights  and  not  a  line  had  come  since  he  left  Sul- 
picio.  From  the  high  tower  of  Sulpicio's  massive  old 
church  came  word  that  by  day  the  smoke,  and  by  night 
the  glow  of  distant  fires,  could  plainly  be  seen  along 
the  line  of  the  southward  road,  and  this  news  was  sent 
to  Crabtree,  also  tales  of  trembling  natives  who  fled 
for  refuge  to  town  and  post,  as  they  declared,  because 
the  woods  were  full  of  ladrones  and  because  the  "head 
hunters"  were  down  from  the  hills.  People  were  be- 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Kap  77 

ing  pillaged  and  decapitated,  said  these  refugees.  Sul- 
picio  begged  for  a  big  guard,  and  Crab  denied  the  re 
quest  and  wisely.  It  would  have  split  what  was  left 
of  his  command  in  two  sections,  beyond  supporting 
distance  of  each  other.  Suspicion  as  to  the  loyalty  of 
Sulpicio's  presidente  and  populace  was  no  new  thing 
at  Boutelle — Blake  had  long  been  of  that  way  of 
thinking — so  Crab  was  sorely  bothered  about  him 
self,  about  Blunt,  about  the  mess,  about  the  tales  the 
Pittsburgh  people  could  be  counted  on  to  tell  at  Ma 
nila,  and  now  came  new  trouble  right  at  his  door. 
Scammon,  the  post  surgeon,  dropped  in  to  say  that 
Dean,  thus  far  harbored  under  the  roof  of  Colonel 
Blake,  was  in  such  condition,  mentally  and  physically, 
as  to  necessitate  his  being  removed  to  a  room  in  the 
hospital  building  where  he  could  be  placed  under  re 
straint,  and  if  Dean  went  poor  Mrs.  Dean  declared 
she  would  go,  too,  and  that,  of  course,  meant  Gertrude 
for  whom  Scarnmon  and  the  Stanhopes  had  learned  to 
feel  deep  sympathy  before  even  the  family's  advent 
at  the  post.  Mrs.  Blake,  too,  had  been  drawn  to  the 
helpless  girl,  because  of  her  devotion  to  her  mother 
and  her  brave  and  patient  effort  to  smother  her  own 
grief,  in  order  the  better  to  control  that  well  nigh 
heart-broken  woman. 

Three  of  the  officers,  as  Crab  well  knew,  had  quite 
disturbed  Colonel  Blake  by  the  frequency  of  their 
visits  to  San  Sulpicio  after  the  Deans'  arrival  there, 
for  Blake  could  see  no  good  whatever  in  Dean  and  of 


78  Lieutenant  San  Up  Kap 

course  saw  little  of  his  family.  Lieutenant  Walker, 
it  seems,  had  been  quite  a  constant  caller  at  the  Deans 
"in  town/7  as  they  had  a  way  of  referring  to  Sulpicio. 
Lieutenant  Walker  and  Dean's  only  son  until  a  fort 
night  back  had  been  on  quite  intimate  terms,  the 
young  men  foregathering  whenever  possible,  but 
Harry  Dean  would  seldom  show  at  the  post,  as  his 
father  was  practically  ostracized.  A  really  fine, 
manly,  soldierly  fellow  was  this  young  Dean,  one  who 
had  served  creditably  in  the  ranks  of  the  volunteers, 
but  could  get  no  influential  backer  for  commission  in 
the  regular  service.  "Old  Dean's  boy"  was  apt  to  find 
few  friends  in  circles  where  his  father  was  well 
known. 

And  now  in  gallant  effort  to  protect  his  mother  and 
sister — he  seldom  mentioned  the  father — this  brave 
American  lad  had  lost  his  life,  leaving  mother  and 
sister  plunged  in  grief,  and  Dean,  the  father,  almost 
delirious.  Mrs.  Blake  had  indeed  her  hands  full  in 
caring  for  such  a  stricken  family,  but  Mrs.  Blake 
was  a  woman  little  daunted  by  obstacles  and  very 
much  set  in  her  ways.  In  the  absence  of  her  colonel 
it  was  her  duty,  she  said,  to  extend  every  possible  aid 
to  these  bereaved  and  stricken  ones.  It  was  no  time 
to  think  of  the  evil  deeds  of  the  head  of  the  f  amily,. 
especially  when  they  were  beyond  proof. 

In  fine,  an  atmosphere  of  gloom  seemed  to  over 
hang  the  neighborhood  of  Camp  Boutelle  and  the  ad 
jacent  towns  and  barrios,  and  this  despite  radiant 


Lieutenant  §>anBp  Kap  79 

sunshine,  flashing  waters  and  fine  sea  breeze.  Even 
Sandy  Ray,  of  whom  his  comrades  were  saying  dur 
ing  the  spring  days  at  Malinta,  "the  boy's  beginning 
to  take  notice  and  be  chipper  again,"  seemed  show 
ing  the  effects  of  the  general  depression.  He  was  still 
occupying  the  spare  room  in  Blunt's  bachelor  suite 
and  watching  for  every  possible  chance  to  get  away 
on  the  trail  of  the  squadron.  He  hated  to  be  in  gar 
rison  at  any  time  when  his  fellows  were  afield;  he 
more  than  hated  it  now. 

For  Mr.  Ray  was  sorely  perplexed  over  the  way; 
things  were  going,  as  he  would  have  put  it.  The  one 
person  in  whom  he  would  have  confided  was  now  the 
one  in  whom  he  could  not.  "Aunt  Nan"  of  the  old 
days  was  to  the  full  as  sympathetic  and  cordial  as 
ever,  when  he  was  able  to  see  her,  but  that  was  per 
haps  the  real  cause  of  the  trouble.  Aunt  Nan  was 
so  very  sympathetic  she  had  taken  under  her  wing 
these  homeless,  luckless  waifs  of  San  Sulpicio;  had 
burdened  herself  with  a  bed-ridden,  broken-hearted 
woman  whose  waking  hours  were  spent  mainly  in 
weeping — with  a  broken-down  drug-consumer,  as  it 
now  appeared,  a  morphine  fiend,  who,  deprived  of  his 
"dope,"  was  having  a  fight  for  his  life  and  reason, 
and,  finally,  with  the  care  of  a  young  girl  who,  with 
all  her  devotion  to  her  mother,  with  all  her  sorrow 
over  the  tragic  fate  of  her  brother,  with  all  her  anx 
iety  as  to  their  future,  had  failed  to  command  a  ves 
tige  of  Ray's  sympathy.  There  were  things  concern- 


so  Lieutenant  §>anflp  Bap 

ing  her  that  demanded  explanation  and  that,  until  ex 
plained,  would  bar  her  from  his  esteem.  Ever  since 
the  noontide  of  his  interrupted  siesta  on  the  veranda 
Ray  had  felt  certain  that  it  was  she  who  stole  so 
noiselessly  to  his  side,  that  it  was  she  whose  hand 
had  lightly  touched  his  arm,  that  it  was  she  who  fled 
instantly  at  his  waking,  bearing  with  her  the  only 
possible  valuable  and  portable  asset  in  sight.  More 
over,  he  was  now  convinced  that  between  her  and 
"Hasty"  Walker  there  existed  an  understanding  of 
some  kind,  and  that  Walker  respected  her  no  more 
than  he  did.  Walker  had  turned  his  back  on  her  and 
gone,  when  in  her  hour  of  grief  she  begged  him  to 
stay.  Walker  had  turned  from  the  open,  moonlit 
beach  into  the  dark  and  tangled  shrubbery,  whither 
she,  Gertrude  Dean,  had  followed,  leaving  on  the  very 
spot  where  she  had  so  eagerly  and  mistakenly  greeted 
the  next  comer,  the  proof  presumptive  of  her  connec 
tion  with  the  loss  of  Sandy  Ray's  property. 

So  far  as  intrinsic  value  was  concerned  there  was 
little  to  make  that  pocketbook  worth  purloining.  In 
currency  and  Manila  bank  notes  there  were  only 
some  thirty  dollars.  But  there  was  a  letter  from  his 
mother,  there  were  some  affairs  and  memoranda  of 
his  own,  that  the  young  officer  would  little  relish  find 
ing  in  unfriendly  hands.  It  probably  looked  more 
tempting  than  it  proved  to  be  valuable,  and  Sandy 
Ray,  believing  as  he  did  that  the  sins  of  the  father 
were  not  only  visited  upon,  but  apt  to  live  again  in  the 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag  si 

children,  had  little  doubt  in  his  own  mind,  from  the 
moment  he  discovered  the  loss,  as  to  who  was  the 
thief.  His  convictions  were  later  strengthened  when 
it  appeared  that  between  Gertrude  Dean  and  young 
Walker  there  had  been,  and  probably  still  existed,  re 
lations  of  a  confidential  if  not  intimate  nature,  and 
Walker,  who  had  not  scrupled  to  see  her  often,  so 
Sandy  learned,  in  her  father's  loosely  guarded  home 
in  town,  dared  not  violate  the  sanctity  of  the  colonel's 
quarters  at  the  post  and  refused  to  see  or  hear  her 
there.  Ray  had  hurried  after  Walker  that  evening 
intent  on  making  amends  for  his  impulsive  words,  in 
fact,  on  begging  Walker's  pardon  for  the  wound  to  his 
regimental  pride.  ISTow  he  would  beg  Walker's  par 
don  for  nothing. 

£Tor  could  he  see  his  way  to  warning  Mrs.  Blake. 
Both  when  under  her  roof  and  here  at  Blunt's  he  stood 
simply  in  the  relation  of  guest.  He  could  prove  noth 
ing  in  her  house  and  could  probe  nothing  in  Blunt's. 
If  Blunt  were  here  he  could  ask  him  flat-footed  what 
he  knew  of  the  Deans.  Had  there  not  been  a  break  of 
some  kind  in  the  friendship  existing  between  young 
Dean  and  Walker  ?  Eumor  had  it  that  the  two  had 
not  been  seen  together  for  nearly  a  week  before  the 
sudden  night  attack  that  fell  so  heavily  on  Sulpicio. 
Sandy  felt  that  he  ought  to  learn  the  truth  about  these 
people  whom  Mrs.  Blake,  "Aunt  Nan"  of  old,  had  so 
trustingly  taken  to  her  heart  and  home,  even  though 
she  must  have  known  something  of  her  colonel's  con- 


82          Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

tempt  for  the  husband  and  father  now  so  miserably 
fallen  in  mind,  body  and  estate.  Sandy  had  ventured 
to  say  something  about  "heaping  coals  of  fire  on  a 
prostrate  head,"  and  Aunt  Nan  had  laughed  one  of 
her  merry,  old-time  laughs. 

"What  earthly  difference  can  that  make  now, 
Sandy  ?  If  Colonel  Blake  were  here  he  would  be  do 
ing  just  exactly  as  I  am,  no  matter  what  that  poor 
wretch  might  have  said.  It's  the  little  mother  I'm 
thinking  of — and  that  sweet,  sorrowing  daughter." 
And  then  Aunt  Nannie's  gentle  eyes  had  filled  with 
such  a  wishful,  wistful  look  and  then  begun  to  brim 
over,  and  Sandy  divined  with  swift  and  sudden 
force  the  thought  that  was  uppermost  in  her  fond  and 
sorrowing  heart,  and  Sandy  could  have  kicked  him 
self,  for  long  years  before  there  had  been  a  beloved 
<?hild,  Aunt  Nan's  one  delight  and  joy  and  solace  in 
the  long  summers  when  her  soldier  husband  was  away 
with  his  troop,  campaigning,  and  well  could  Sandy 
Temember  his  own  mother's  weeping,  the  hush  and 
grief  and  sympathy  that  for  an  entire  week  had  pufc 
summary  stop  to  all  garrison  gayety,  when  Gerald 
Blake's  only  daughter  was  taken  from  the  stricken 
mother's  arms.  Oh,  what  heartbreaks  sometimes 
came  to  the  women  left  to  watch  and  rear  the  little 
ones  in  those  old  frontier  forts,  while  the  fathers  were 
afield!  No,  Sandy  could  say  nothing  of  his  worry 
now.  Perhaps  when  Blake  or  Blunt  returned  it 
might  be  possible  to  seek  and  learn.  Perhaps  Blake 


Lieutenant  ftan&p  Kap  8a 

knew,  and  had  never  told  his  wife,  that  Dean  was 
probably  little  worse  in  his  way  than  were  his  women 
folk  in  theirs. 

And  yet,  not  once  up  to  this  moment,  had  Ray 
heard  one  aspersion  or  insinuation  at  their  expense, 
but  that  was  one  of  the  ways  of  the  Army.  Flatly  as 
they  might  condemn  the  father  there  was  no  man  in 
the  mess  who  would  say  aught  against  the  family. 
Whatsoever,  therefore,  might  be  Sandy  Ray's  sus 
picion,  it  must  be  kept  sacred  and  secret  to  himself 
until  his  colonel's  coming. 

So  resolving  he  had  betaken  himself  to  Blunt's  big 
four  poster,  with  its  rattan  bottom,  top  and  side- 
bolsters,  mosquito  bar,  and  general  gloom,  the  night 
before.  Sandy  hated  a  row  of  any  kind  in  garrison, 
though  he  had  proved  himself  a  stout  young  soldier 
in  more  than  one  sharp  affair  both  here  in  Luzon  and 
within  our  own  blessed  boundaries  at  home.  He  had 
had  nothing  whatsoever  to  do  with  the  revolt  of  the 
mess  against  its  well-meaning  but  misguided  senior- 
He  was  somewhat  whimsically,  humorously  inter 
ested  in  the  affair  until  he  saw  how  deeply  Crabtree 
took  it  to  heart,  and  then  he  could  have  found  it  quite 
possible  to  urge  his  new  associates  to  let  Crab  have 
his  way,  do  him  the  deference  he  expected,  even  if  it 
was  un-American  and  absurd.  He  deplored  it  that 
somebody  should  have  so  far  forgotten  the  tenets  of  a 
club  as  to  betray  to  Crab's  tormentor,  Mrs.  Shane, 
their  intent  to  pull  him  down,  and  it  annoyed  him  not 


84:          JLieiitenant  Sanflg 

a  little  that  on  the  two  occasions  when  he  had  since 
met  her,  once  quite  by  chance  and  once  quite  obviously 
by  her  own  contrivance,  she  had  merrily  insisted  on 
trying  to  draw  him  into  conversation  on  the  subject. 
Sandy,  in  fact,  was  beginning  to  dislike  that  quite 
bewitching  little  matron  and  to  feel  the  need,  when  in 
her  presence,  of  guarding  both  his  tongue  and  temper. 
He  had  awakened  early,  after  a  night  of  healthful 
sleep,  and  was  aware  soon  after  dawn  of  Hilario  flit 
ting  about  the  room  in  his  bare,  brown  feet  and  with 
his  brown,  inscrutable  face.  Ray  had  jumped  into 
loose  khaki  raiment,  mounted  a  stocky  little  native 
pony  and  galloped  away  up  the  beach  for  a  plunge  in 
the  salt  breakers.  He  had  galloped  back  for  dress  and 
breakfast  and  a  look  at  Crab's  well-drilled  "steadies" 
at  guard-mounting,  and  having  dodged  the  Shanes7 
veranda  on  his  way  from  mess,  was  not  a  little  nettled 
to  find  that  he  had  not  succeeded  in  dodging  Mrs. 
Shane.  A  coaxing  hand  was  laid  on  his  arm,  and  a 
mocking  little  face,  with  such  merry  dimples  and 
pretty  white  teeth  and  ruddy  lips,  peeped  round  his 
shoulder,  and  a  laughing,  teasing  voice  began : 

"Two  pennies  for  your  thoughts,  Mr.  Sandy  Ray, 
and  what  new  mischief  are  you  meditating  now  at 
Captain  Crab's  expense  ?"  He  could  have  shaken  off 
her  hand  in  his  vexation,  for  Walker,  too,  was  at  her 
side,  and  in  stolid  disapprobation  of  her  forgetting 
him  for  others.  And  then  as  luck  would  have  it,  the 
orderly  of  the  commanding  officer  came  to  say  tho 


Lieutenant  ^anDp  Hap  85 


commanding  officer  requested  Mr.  Walker's  presence 
at  the  office,  whereat  the  youth  so  requistioned  cast  a 
meaning  glance  at  the  lady  and  went  unwillingly 
away.  "Which  makes  you  my  escort  home,"  said  she, 
in  mischievous  triumph,  "and  now,  sir,  unless  you 
would  have  it  said  on  every  side  that  we  had  quar 
reled,  I'll  trouble  you  for  your  arm." 

Which  was  how  it  happened  that,  five  minutes 
later,  when  Captain  Crabtree  came  forth  from  a  very 
unsatisfying  reprimand  he  found  excuse  to  give  to 
Mr.  Walker,  he  encountered,  at  a  sudden  turn  on  the 
shaded  pathway,  Mrs.  Shane,  close  clinging  to  the 
side  of  the  cavalry  subaltern  and  looking  volumes  of 
merriment  and  mischief  up  into  his  half-averted 
eyes.  Which  was  how  it  happened  that  Crabtree  had 
no  word  for  either  of  the  juniors,  who  greeted  him 
with  such  access  of  deference  at  the  breakfast  table, 
which  was  how  it  happened  that  a  sudden  idea  flashed 
through  Crabtree's  not  over  brilliant  brain,  and, 
barely  stopping  to  finish  his  coffee,  fuming  with  impa 
tience,  wrath  and  the  sting  of  recent  defeat,  the  cap 
tain  left  the  messroom  for  the  office,  sent  for  Lieuten 
ant  Ray  and  on  that  young  gentleman's  entrance  ac 
costed  him  abruptly  : 

"Mr.  Ray,  did  you  not  tell  me  you  did  not  know 
who  sounded  that  mess  call  the  other  night  ?" 

"ISTo,  sir,  I  told  you  I  did  not  know  who  ordered  it 
sounded."  The  answer  was  respectful  but  firm,  and 


86  Lieutenant  @>anOp  IRag 

Crab,  had  he  been  in  normal  mood,  would  have  hesi 
tated  at  what  so  quickly  followed. 

"That's — evasion.  You  know  now  who  sounded  it, 
for  Mrs.  Shane  has  told  you." 

Ray  went  red  all  over.  It  was  true.  Barely  quar 
ter  of  an  hour  earlier,  on  that  homeward  stroll,  she 
had  said  that  it  was  Mr.  Walker. 

"And  now  another  matter,  Mr.  Ray.  You  told 
that — most  impertinent  young  person  to  call  me 
Aimer ic  Paget." 

"I  did  not,  sir,"  was  the  instant  answer.  "I  did 
not  know  it  was  your  name." 


JLieutenam  San  Dp  Bag 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

FOE  a  moment  the  two  officers  studied  each  other  in 
silence.  If  there  was  anything  Crab  believed  in  it 
was  blue  blood,  and  that  it  could  not  lie,  yet  he  had 
just  accused  his  subordinate  of  evasion.  He  knew 
Colonel  Ray,  and  the  honor  in  which  he  was  held  in 
the  service.  He  had  been  drawn  to  Lieutenant  Ray 
from  all  he  had  heard  of  him,  and  from  the  little  he 
had  seen.  But,  discipline  must  be  maintained,  said 
he,  and  if  this  young  gentleman  had  seen  fit  to  ally 
himself  with  the  reprobates  of  the  mess,  he  must  be 
made  to  feel  the  power  of  the  post  commander,  taught 
the  error  of  his  ways,  and  then,  when  properly  con 
trite,  he  might  again  be  taken  in  favor.  But  for  the 
time  Crab's  heart  was  sore  and  his  temper  soured  and 
his  judgment  sapped.  He  knew  that  Mrs.  Shane  and 
all  whom  she  could  influence  were  laughing  at  hinu 
He  knew  the  mess  was  in  revolt  and  had  practically 
defied  him.  He  knew  that  he  must  promptly  regain 
his  ascendency,  personal  and  official,  or  his  prestige 
was  gone  for  good  and  all.  He  had  thought  to  discover 
the  amateur  bugler  who  had  so  flouted  him,  and 
though  he  had  strong  suspicion  he  had  still  no  proof. 


ss          Lieutenant  §>anDp 

He  had  questioned  every  minion  about  the  mess  and 
stoutly  had  they  denied  all  knowledge.  He  had  even 
set  a  trusty  sergeant  to  work,  a  man  whose  detective 
skill  he  had  had  reason  to  respect,  but  as  yet  the 
trusty  had  made  no  discovery  worth  mentioning.  He 
had  even  a  half -formed  project  in  his  brain  of  taking 
Ray  into  semi-confidential  relations,  since  there  could 
be  no  intimacies  with  officers  of  his  own  regiment,  and 
knowing  that  Ray  was  almost  a  stranger  to  them  and 
could  therefore  have  formed  as  yet  no  ties  among 
them,  he  had  thought  it  not  impossible  that  Ray  would 
welcome  the  idea  of  being  held  and  treated  as  a  com 
rade  and  friend,  by  an  officer  so  much  his  senior  in 
years  and  station.  But  first,  and  this  was  the  "bump 
tious  Briton"  part  of  it,  Crab  decreed  that  Ray  must 
be  made  to  feel  the  power  of  the  commanding  officer, 
to  realize  the  width  of  the  official  gulf  between  them, 
to  fear,  in  fine,  his  post  commander.  Then  he  would 
doubtless  all  the  more  seek  the  captain's  favor  and 
welcome  his  friendship.  Then  Crab  might  expect  to 
worm  out  of  him  everything  he  knew  concerning  men 
and  matters  at  the  mess,  and  then  Crab's  domination 
might  be  made  complete. 

But  at  the  outset,  at  the  first  approach,  he  found 
himself  actually  chilled  and  repulsed.  A  few  hours 
since  he  was  wrathful  because  Mrs.  Shane  knew  that 
his  long  hidden  name  was  Almeric  Paget.  Now  he 
was  almost  amazed  that  Ray  did  not.  Moreover, 
Ray's  manner  plainly  said  not  only  that  he  did  not 


Lieutenant  ^anDp  Kap  89 

know  the  commanding  officer  bore  so  distinguished 
a  name,  but  he  even  did  not  care.  Crab  had  seen  fit 
to  conceal  it  for  years,  but,  once  it  was  known,  he  ex 
pected  people  to  be  seriously  impressed,  and  Ray  was 
not  impressed  at  all.  Kay  would  no  more  have 
thought  to  uncover  in  accosting  royalty  than  not  to 
uncover  in  accosting  a  woman.  Moreover,  had  it  de 
veloped  that  Crabtree's  lineage  was  the  most  distin 
guished  known  to  these  United  States,  all  the  more 
would  it  have  carried  an  obligation — that  of  amende 
to  a  junior  officer  compelled  to  listen  in  unresenting 
silence  to  the  accusation  of  duplicity,  for  what  else  is 
"evasion."  Kay's  heart  was  hot  within  him,  but  his 
head,  already  high  held  and  back,  was  comparatively 
cool.  The  experiences  of  four  years  or  more  of 
subaltern  life  were  beginning  to  tell.  There  had  been 
no  thought  of  evasion  on  his  part.  Reverting  to  the 
previous  question,  it  had  been  exactly  as  Sandy 
stated,  "Do  you  know  who  ordered  that  call 
sounded?"  and  at  the  time  the  question  was  asked 
Ray  knew  neither  who  ordered  nor  who  sounded.  As 
matters  stood,  therefore,  Crabtree's  pitch  of  pride  and 
exasperation  had  stirred  him  to  two  unwarrantable 
accusations  in  less  than  two  minutes,  and  he,  who  had 
sought  to  gain  the  upper  hand,  had  thereby  lost  it. 

But  Crab  when  at  his  best  was  slow  to  imbibe  im 
pressions,  and  this  particular  occasion  he  was  well 
nigh  at  his  worst.  Kay,  on  the  other  hand,  ordinarily 
quick  to  boil  over,  saw  to  the  full  the  advantage  he 


90          Lieutenant 

had  gained  and  with  it  became  calm  as  Crabtree  was 
fretful.  Then  Crabtree  made  his  next  false  step. 

"Well,  one  thing  is  certain,  Mr.  Kay,  you  are  con 
cerned  in  it  equally  with  the  rest.  Mrs.  Shane  has 
been  told  all  manner  of  things  concerning  affairs  at 
the  mess  that  ought  to  have  been  kept  to  yourselves. 
It  is  most  extraordinary,  sir,  that  the  commanding- 
officer  should  be — er — made  sport  of  by — women  of 
the  garrison.  It  is  not  to  be  tolerated,  and  you  young 
gentlemen  have  evidently  been  priming  her  with — 
with  misinformation." 

And  then,  in  his  wrath,  and  despite  the  calm  of  his 
manner,  Mr.  Ray  in  turn  made  his  mistake. 

"Speak  for  your  own  regiment,  Captain  Crabtree, 
but  excuse  me.  I  have  had  nothing  to  do  with — with 
these  affairs  in  the  past,  and  I  mean  to  cut  loose  from 
the — possibility  in  the  future." 

The  captain  turned  in  his  chair  and  glared  one 
moment  before  he  trusted  himself  to  speak. 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mr.  Ray  ?"  he  demanded. 

"Just  what  I  say,  sir.  I  quit  the  mess  from  this 
minute." 

"Because  of — disagreement  with  your — brother 
officers,  Mr.  Ray  3" 

"No,  sir.    Because  of  disagreement  with  you!" 

The  captain  turned  again  and  banged  the  little 
hand  bell  on  his  desk.  The  orderly,  his  khaki  suit 
stiff,  starched  and  glistening,  his  visible  entity  fault- 


JUeutenant  San  Dp  IRap  91 

less  in  his  pose  and  salute,  sprang  to  the  doorway  in 
the  bamboo  partition. 

"My  compliments  to  the  adjutant  and  request  his 
presence  here  at  once,"  said  Crabtree,  icily. 

Then  there  was  an  interval  of  silence.  The  rela 
tive  temperament  seemed  to  have  changed,  Ray  still 
standing  at  attention,  his  head  still  farther  back ;  the 
captain  struggling  to  subdue  his  indignation  and  con 
trol  his  temper,  tongue  and*nerves,  yet  tapping  force 
fully  with  his  pencil  on  the  blotting  pad,  and  keeping 
Kay  firmly  focused  by  his  glowering  eyes. 

Then  Fethers  came  and  stood  uneasily  in  the  door 
way.  At  the  first  intimation  of  reprimand  to  Ray  he 
had  found  business  as  far  away  as  possible  to  the  limi 
tations  of  the  big  headquarters  building.  He  did  not 
wish  to  hear  a  word  of  it  now. 

"Come  in,  captain,"  said  Crabtree,  his  voice  tremu 
lous,  but  his  words  professionally  weighed  and  meas 
ured.  "I  wish  you  to  see — or  hear — er — the  threat 
this  officer  has  seen  fit  to — to  utter.  Now,  Mr.  Ray, 
if  you  will  repeat " 

"No  threat  at  all,  sir.  I  simply  state  that  I  quit 
the  mess  at  once " 

"Because  of?" 

"Because  of  purely  personal  disagreement  witK 
you,  sir." 

"An  affront,  Mr.  Ray,  to  your  commanding  officer 
I  should  never  have  looked  for  in  your  father's  son." 
Crabtree  meant  to  be  crushing,  yet  saw  in  the  stolid 


92  Lieutenant  SantJg  Bap 

faces  of  both  his  juniors  that  neither  was  properly 
impressed. 

"I  am  the  affronted  one,  sir/'  said  Ray,  with  rising 
choler.  "You  have  accused  me  of  various  offenses, 
growing  out  of  affairs  at  the  mess.  I  deny  every  one. 
.You  have  accused  me  of  evasion,  and  even — even  a 
post  commander  can't  do  that — without  having  to 
answer  for  it." 

"That  is  sufficient.  Leave  my  office,  Mr.  Ray. 
The — er — the  adjutant  will  later  call  for  your  sabre." 

Sandy  Ray  whirled  on  his  heel  without  a  word, 
strode  stiffly  toward  the  doorway,  re-collected  him 
self,  halted,  faced  the  desk  again,  raised  his  hand  in 
punctilious  salute  and  then  with  more  deliberation 
turned  again  and  found  himself  in  the  broad  and 
breezy  hallway.  One  or  two  soldier  clerks,  writing 
in  the  sergeant-major's  room,  glanced  up  quickly  and 
took  furtive,  hurried  surveys  of  the  straight-backed, 
stiff-necked,  high-headed  young  officer  stalking  out 
into  the  sunshine.  The  orderly  on  the  porch  without, 
stiffened  anew,  a  starched  and  glistening  bit  of  living 
statuary.  A  sentry,  guarding  a  brace  of  prisoners 
awaiting  action  of  the  summary  court,  swung  his 
gloved  hand  to  the  bolt  of  his  shouldered  rifle  and 
got  a  mechanical  return  of  the  soldier  greeting.  Mrs. 
Fethers's  native  nursemaid,  taking  the  children  their 
morning  airing  and  making,  for  reasons  of  her  own, 
the  circuit  of  the  parade  before  seeking  the  beach  and 
the  cool  breeze  from  the  billows,  shot  one  quick  glance 


lieutenant  San  Dp  Kap  93 

i 

of  maidenly  approbation  on  the  natty  white  uniform 
and  the  trim  form  within  it,  then  turned  her  eyes 
toward  the  eastward  gate  and  the  adjacent  guard 
house.  The  sentry  had  set  up  a  shout  and  with  his 
Krag  at  the  port  was  gazing  excitedly  up  the  strag 
gling  village  street  without.  A  corporal  and  two  or 
three  men  were  running  to  join  him  and  to  stare  with 
hands  flattened  at  the  brows.  Three  or  four  loungers 
on  the  barrack  porches  heaved  up  from  their  chairs 
on  the  still  sun-sheltered  steps,  and  hastened  away  to 
join  the  comrades  at  the  entrance.  But  Ray  heard 
nothing  and  went  blindly  on.  He  could  think  of 
nothing  else  just  now  but  that  painful  interview  and 
his  own  predicament.  He  never  saw  the  horseman 
who  rode  wearily  in  and  reined  up  at  the  adjutant's 
office.  Willing  hands  strove  to  aid  the  rider  to  dis 
mount  and  to  secure  his  horse  while  he  went  clinking 
in.  "News  from  Forrest/'  was  the  rumor  that  flew 
from  lip  to  lip,  but  Sandy  never  noted.  He  had  need 
to  see  his  oldest  and  best  friend  before  the  official  visi 
tation  so  frigidly  promised  by  the  captain  command 
ing.  That  meant  "durance  vile"  and  possible  prohi 
bition  against  seeing  anybody.  He  was  quivering 
now  with  anger  and  sense  of  injustice.  He  wanted 
Mrs.  Blake  to  hear  his  side  of  the  case  before  other 
rumors  reached  her,  and  shocked  her  as  they  would 
be  sure  to  do. 

And  so  he  had  passed  the  sentry  at  the  seaward 
gate  and  was  speeding  along  the  beach  road  before 


»4  Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

the  waiting  garrison  had  the  first  intimation  of  the 
contents  of  Forrest's  despatch.  He  was  seated  in  the 
shaded  gallery,  listening  to  the  boom  of  the  breakers 
and  the  hiss  of  the  flying  spray  before  the  sudden  re 
appearance  of  the  orderly  going  on  the  run  in  quest  of 
the  post  surgeon,  with  no  time  to  answer  the  questions 
of  the  paling  faces  that  turned  and  followed  the  swift 
flitting  form.  He  was  sitting  close  to  the  broad- 
topped  balcony,  staring  out  across  the  tumbling, 
white-crested  billows,  the  sea  breeze  tossing  the  light 
curtain  about  his  ears,  his  close-cropped,  yet  curly 
head  resting  wearily  on  his  hand,  switching  ner 
vously,  mechanically  at  the  snowy  trousers  with  the 
swagger  stick  of  which  Crab  so  heartily  approved,  and 
which  so  many  old  officers  derided.  He  sat  ex 
pectant  of  Aunt  JSTannie's  coming,  yet  never  heard 
the  light  footfall,  the  swish  of  the  trailing  skirt,  when 
a  young  girl  stepped  from  the  darkened  hallway  to  the 
matting  of  the  veranda,  and  came  straightway,  yet 
shyly,  to  his  side.  He  turned  with  sudden  start  at  the 
half  timid  "Mr.  Ray,"  with  which  she  accosted  him, 
and  then  at  sight  of  her  the  blood  rushed  to  his  fore 
head  that  but  the  moment  agone  had  been  so  pale. 
His  dark  eyes  filled  with  distrust  as  he  rose  to  his 
feet  and  stood  facing,  yet  repelling  her.  There  was 
falter  in  her  voice  as  she  spoke.  The  few  men  she 
had  known  in  the  army  had  been  most  friendly,  at 
least  until  the  brother  she  so  loved  and  the  soldier  he 
at  first  so  liked  had  quarreled,  she  knew  not  why. 


Lieutenant  bating  Kag          95 

Even  Colonel  Blake,  of  whom  her  father  spoke  so  bit 
terly,  was  courtesy  itself  to  her  mother  and  to  her. 
As  for  Mrs.  Blake,  who  could  ever  be  lovelier  than 
she  ?  Yet  here  was  the  young  officer  whom  they  had 
known  longest  and  held  as  nearest,  and  he  had  not  a 
civil  word  for  her  who  had  never  consciously  offended 
him.  Her  young  heart  swelled  in  prompt  resent 
ment.  Grief,  peril  and  dire  misfortune  combined 
had  not  so  humbled  it  that  she  would  tamely  tolerate 
such  unwarranted  and  unwarrantable  symptom  of 
antagonism.  She  had  come  to  him  at  Mrs.  Blake's 
behest,  though  she  had  reason  of  her  own  to  wish  to 
see  him  and  to  see  him  at  once;  but  the  look  in  his 
eye  first  stilled,  then  stirred  her  pulses.  Forgotten 
for  the  instant  was  her  own  quest,  but  not  her  mes 
sage.  Though  her  face  turned  hot,  the  words  were 
cold  as  she  could  make  them : 

"I  did  not  mean  to  disturb  you.  Mrs.  Blake  could 
not  come  at  the  moment;  she  is  helping  mother,  but 
sent  me  to  say  please  wait  and  she  will  be  here  very 
shortly."  Having  said  it  she  turned  about  and  was 
half  way  to  the  hall  again  before  he  found  wit  to  say : 

"I  hope — Mrs.  Dean  is  better." 

"Mrs.  Dean  is  little  better  and  Mr.  Dean  is  worse," 
she  answered,  one  slender  foot  upon  the  stone  coping, 
one  slender  white  hand  upon  the  fluted  pillar  at  the 
doorway.  She  stood  looking  squarely  at  him  now,  so 
far  as  face  and  eyes  were  concerned,  but  it  was  over 
a  resentful  shoulder.  She  could  have  burst  into  tears 


96  Lieutenant  S>anDp  Bap 

as  she  spoke  but  for  the  presence  of  him  who  had  so 
rebuffed  her.  Now  she  would  not  for  the  world  per 
mit  his  seeing  there  was  a  soft  side  to  her  nature,  so 
far  as  he  was  concerned. 

"I  am  more  sorry  than  I  can  tell  you,"  he  stam 
mered  ;  but  she  raised  a  hand  in  protest : 

"We  know  that  my  poor  father  had  no  friends 
here,"  she  began,  tears,  despite  her  effort,  springing 
to  her  eyes.  "He  knows  it  now.  He  can't  get  well 
where  he  feels  that  every  one  is  an  enemy,  and  that 
he's  a  burden  to  them."  She  broke  off  abruptly.  Slid 
ing  windows,  lattice,  shutters,  all  were  open  wide  to 
welcome  the  rush  of  the  strong  sea  wind,  and  in  spite 
of  its  landward  sweeps  the  stirring  peal  of  the  bugle 
could  be  faintly  heard.  It  was  barely  half  past  nine. 
No  drill  was  held  at  that  hour.  No  "call"  was 
scheduled  until  nearly  noon,  when  the  first  sergeants 
went  for  their  morning  report  books,  orders  and  the 
details  for  the  morrow.  Something  unusual  was 
happening,  and  Ray  turned  in  search  of  his  cap.  It 
had  disappeared.  He  hunted  about  the  chairs,  the 
broad-topped  table,  underneath  the  bamboo  lounge. 
Again  came  the  call,  just  a  note  or  two  thrilling 
against  the  breeze,  and  then  a  door  opened  away  back 
in  the  wide,  airy  corridor  and  Mrs.  Blake's  steps  and 
voice  were  audible,  and  she  was  calling  Sandy.  He 
sprang  to  meet  her,  and  the  girl  recoiled  to  give  him 
way ;  then  quickly,  lightly  sprang  to  the  railing,  saw 
a  white  object  lying  on  the  flagging  beneath;  ran, 


lieutenant  ^anDp  map          97 

swift-footed  down  the  stairway  and  came  scurrying 
back  with  the  missing  cap,  just  in  time  to  hear  the 
close  of  a  brief  conversation. 

"It  was  officers'  call,  I  am  almost  sure/'  said  Mrs. 
Blake.  "Wait."  Whereupon  she  turned  to  her  own 
room  at  the  south  side,  while  he  started  again  to  the 
gallery. 

"It  was  officers'  call/'  panted  the  girl,  "a  soldier 
outside  said  so.  Here's  your  cap.  The  curtain  must 
have  brushed  it  from  the  ledge.  Not  that  way  if  you 
are  in  a  hurry,"  she  added,  as  he  mumbled  his 
thanks.  "The  back  stairs  and  gate !" 

"Take  you  right  to  your  quarters,"  added  Mrs. 
Blake,  reappearing,  "and  save  all  that  distance. 
iYou'11  let  us  know,  won't  you?"  she  added  as  he 
went  bounding  down  the  unfamiliar  flight.  Two  or 
three  native  attaches  of  the  kitchen  were  peering 
through  the  rear  gateway  as  he  brushed  them  by,  and 
found  himself  following  a  pathway  that  led  diagon 
ally  to  the  nipa-built  quarters  along  the  west  side  of 
the  garrison,  to  the  narrow  roadway  between  those 
occupied  by  Lieutenant  Walker  and  himself.  Two 
minutes  more  and  he  encountered  three  of  the  in 
fantry  officers  hastening  forth  from  the  presence  he 
had  so  recently  quitted. 

"What's  wrong?"  he  demanded  of  Walker,  first 
man  he  met. 

"'Forrest's  had  a  scrap  in  the  brush.  Got  to  send 
surgeons.  Pitts  is  killed !" 


98  Lieutenant  @anDg 

"Ray  pushed  on  into  the  office.  Prince  and  one  or 
two  seniors  were  still  there,  Crabtree,  all  soldierly; 
animation  now,  giving  sharp,  clear-cut  instructions. 
Ray  could  not  interpose  a  word  or  question.  Impa 
tient,  but  subordinate,  he  stood  awaiting  his  oppor 
tunity.  From  the  brief  words  that  fell  he  gathered 
that  there  had  been  an  attack  in  the  jungle  on  the 
long-extended  column  of  files,  that  the  field  hospital 
and  guard  had  been  surrounded,  cut  off  and  badlyj 
cut  up,  the  one  doctor  with  the  column  and  two  men 
of  the  hospital  corps  slashed  to  death  in  the  midst  of 
their  friends,  the  sergeant  commanding  and  several 
men  sharing  their  fate.  Crab  was  sending  the  post 
surgeon,  one  assistant,  and  everything  he  could  spare, 
under  strong  escort.  It  was  a  three  days'  march  at 
least  and  might  be  more  if  the  natives  knew  the  game. 
It  was  the  Forty-Second's  first  chance  for  field  work. 
It  was  the  first  chance  that  had  come  for  Ray  to  join1 
his  squadron,  now  at  bay  and  waiting  succor.  The 
instant  Crab  stopped  talking  Ray  seized  his  oppor 
tunity  and  began : 

"I  can  be  ready  in  thirty  minutes,  sir,  and  quicker, 
if  need  be.  Fethers,  will  you  lend  me  a  horse  ?"  \ 

"You  will  need  no  horse,  sir,"  answered  Crabtree, 
coldly.  "You  should  be  now  in,  and  you  are,  sir^ 
ordered  to,  your  quarters  in  close  arrest." 


JLieutenam  SanDg  Bap 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

THAT  evening  the  mess  assembled  in  white,  but  the 
looks  were  black  and  the  words  were  few.  Crab 
dawdled  over  as  on  previous  occasions,  but  making  no 
pronounced  stop  on  the  way.  He  had  a  lesson  to  ad 
minister  and  it  was  well  to  lose  no  point  at  the  start. 
It  would  be  just  like  Prince,  his  intuition  told  him, 
to  set  the  example  and  convey  the  signal  to  take  seats 
if  the  captain  in  temporary  command  gave  the  faint 
est  excuse  for  so  doing.  So  long,  therefore,  as  Crab 
did  not  actually  halt  or  turn  aside,  but  continued  his 
deliberate  and  stately  progress  toward  the  mess  room, 
the  assembled  officers  could  not,  without  disrespect, 
seat  themselves  at  table  before  he  had  taken  his  place. 
'All  the  same  he  could  make  them  feel  his  importance, 
could  compel  them  to  wait,  and  this  he  did  by  stop 
ping  with  his  foot  almost  on  the  veranda  steps  and 
affecting  to  see  something  in  the  bearing  of  the  sentry 
at  the  seaward  gate. 

"Mr.  Officer-of-the-day,"  he  called,  and  Captain 
Prince,  who  had  shed  his  sabre  in  expectation  of 
speedily  taking  his  seat,  had  to  say,  aOne  moment, 
sir,"  dive  within  doors,  snap  the  slings  to  his  waist 
belt,  seize  his  cap  and  gloves  and  come  forth  again,  his 


ioo         Jlieiitenant  §>anDg  Bap 


jaws  set  like  a  vise.  If  there's  one  thing  a  captain 
hates  more  than  another,  it  is  to  have  another  captain 
for  a  post  commander.  Prince  knew,  when  thus  offi 
cially  summoned,  he  could  not  appear  before  Crabtree 
except  in  complete  equipment.  Prince  knew  that 
Crabtree  was  looking  for  a  pretext  to  rebuke  or  repri 
mand  him  before  his  fellows,  for  there  had  been  more 
harsh  words  between  these  two  before  noontide. 
Prince  knew  that  now,  thanks  to  Crab's  actions  of  the 
morning,  every  man  of  the  mess  would  side  per 
sonally  against  the  commander  and  with  him,  but  he 
must  make  no  mistake.  He  came  forward  with  much 
diginty  of  mien,  but  he  scented  annoyance  of  some 
kind  and  it  came.  Pointing  to  the  gate,  Crabtree 
began: 

"It  is  most  distressing,  Captain  Prince,  to  find  the 
instructions  of  the  commanding  officer  systematically 
ignored.  JSTow,  look  at  that  man.  How  often  must  I 
say  to  you  that  members  of  your  company  are  very 
slack  as  sentries  ?"  Every  eye,  of  course,  had  turned 
sentryward  in  the  endeavor  to  see  wherein  that  func 
tionary  had  incurred  the  post  commander's  criticism, 
but,  all  unconscious  possibly  of  his  condemnation,  the 
sentry  was  sauntering  along  the  beaten  track  across 
the  roadway,  head,  eyes  and  even  rifle  muzzle  up, 
apparently  alert  and  vigilant. 

"I  fail  to  see  anything  amiss,  sir,"  said  Prince, 
biting  swear  words  in  two  writh  his  rasping  teeth,  but 
saluting  as  he  spoke. 


Lieutenant  @attp'a?          oi 


"Because  you  are  too  late, 'sir,  or  too— er — iiftnf- 
ferent.  It  is  not  what  you  saw,  but  what  your  com- 
mahnding  officer  saw  that  calls  for  reprimand.  A 
moment  ago,  sir,  he  was  slouching  across  there  with 
the  bayonet  trailing  behind  him,  and  the  butt  up  in 
the  air.  Go  at  once,  and  properly  instruct  him  as  to 
his  duty." 

"He's  been  instructed  often,  sir,"  began  Prince, 

flushing  hotly.  "He  knows  his  duty  as  well  as " 

It  was  on  the  tip  of  his  tongue  to  say  you  or  I,  but 
Crab  cut  him  off. 

"I  said,  go  at  once,  sir."  And  Prince,  cursing 
volubly  below  his  breath,  turned  and  stalked  away. 

Then,  as  was  his  wont,  having  rasped  one  of  his 
luckless  officers,  Crab  turned  and  beamed  upon  the 
others  with  "Come  now,  gentlemen,  let's  to  dinner," 
and,  rubbing  his  hands  briskly,  led  the  way  and  jovi 
ally  called  the  native  steward.  "Let's  have  some 
Bordeaux,  Mariano.  Er — set  the  glasses.  We  all 
want  some  after  such  a  day,"  then  with  great  gusto- 
turned  to  the  table  in  general  where  in  silence  the 
white-clad  figures  were  settling  to  their  seats,  and, 
unfolding  his  napkin,  began  a  semi-confidential 
monologue  on  the  stirring  summons  of  the  day. 
Dumb,  unresponsive  and  with  averted  eyes,  the  mess 
sipped  its  soup  and  gave  him  what  he  always  claimed, 
the  floor.  But  even  to  a  greater  extent  than  the  day 
before  the  mess  had  its  grievance  and  meant  that  he 
should  know  it.  Prince's  seat,  opposite,  being  still 


102         Lieutenant  @>anDp  Bag 

vacant,  Crab  was  •  addressing  his  remarks  especially 
to  "Hasty"  Walker  and  Lieutenant  Trott  who  sat 
about  mid  table.    Ray's  accustomed  chair  was  vacant. 
The  whole  mess  knew  by  this  time  why  he  had  not 
come  and  why  he  probably  never  again  would  come, 
at  least  so  long  as  Crabtree    presided.      One    after 
another  almost  every  man  of  the  seven  survivors  of 
the  little  club  had  been  to  see,  and  had  striven  to  con 
sole,  him  in  his  confinement,  and  all  had  come  away 
feeling  that  Ray  had  been  hard  hit,  harder  hit  even, 
than  they  were,  for  a  singular  fact  had  dawned  upon 
them  earlier  in  the  day.     Ray,  whose  troop  was  in 
the  field,  expectant  of  his  coming    to    assume  com 
mand,  had  been  cooped  up  in  the  post  at  the  very  first 
moment  when  opportunity  presented  itself  to  reach 
his  men — cooped  up  in  close  arrest  on  a  charge  of  dis 
respect  to  his  commanding  officer  that  the  whole  mess 
felt  even  Crab  could  not  be  ass  enough  to  press  for 
trial,  and  was  therefore  almost  "frivolous  and  vexa 
tious."   They  found  Ray  raging  and  yet  almost  ready 
to  do  anything  Crab  might  demand  rather  than  lose  a 
chance  to  join  a  column  in  actual  contact  with  the 
t  enemy ;  but  when,  in  his  extremity,  tramping  up  and 
down  the  narrow  confines  of  his    quarters,    he   had 
turned  suddenly  on  Prince  with  the  words:  "If  a 
written  apology  will  assist,  by  heaven,  I  believe  I 
could  almost  do  that!"  Prince    and    they   who    fol 
lowed  him,  who  knew  well  that  was  exactly  what 
Crab  was  plajdng  for,  shook  their  heads  in  solemn 


ILieutenant  §>anDp  Bap         103 

protest.  It  would  only  make  Crab  more  unbearable 
than  ever.  There  wouldn't  be  any  more  fighting  just 
now.  The  insurrectos,  bushmen,  ladrones,  or  what 
ever  they  were,  would  be  well  content  with  cutting  up 
the  rear  guard  and  would  never  tackle  the  main  body. 
He  would  lose  nothing  by  staying.  He  would  spoil 
everything  by  going — on  Crabtree's  terms.  He  must 
stay  and  sti^k  it  out  and  stand  by  them,  for  they,  too, 
had  a  bitter  grievance.  Crab  had  selected  three  offi 
cers  and  fifty  men  to  fight  their  way  through  to  the 
crippled  command — the  first  onerous  and  honorable 
bit  of  duty  the  Forty-Second  had  encountered,  except 
possibly  Blunt7  s  essay  to  the  southward,  and  in  his 
selection  Crab  had  systematically  ignored  the  mess 
and  sent  married  men — Captain  C agger  and  two  rank 
outsiders.  Mrs.  Shane,  who  was  shorn  of  her  hus 
band  and  crying  her  eyes  out  in  the  clasping  arms  of 
Mrs.  Scammon,  refused  to  be  comforted,  despite  the 
efforts  of  the  friend  who  had  been  so  often  similarly 
bereft  that  she  had  learned  to  take  such  sorrows 
philosophically. 

"A  more  direct,  diabolical,  damnable  slight  to  a 
band  of  brother  officers  I  never  heard  of/'  was 
Prince's  summing  up,  and  as  such  did  the  mess  re 
gard  it,  to  the  end  that  now,  with  the  going  down  of 
the  sun  upon  the  long  and  trying  day,  they  were  plan 
ning  and  plotting  reprisals.  The  time  had  come  to 
strike  and  strike  in  earnest. 

Therefore  did  all  Crabtree's  tentatives  fall  on  stonj> 


104         Lieutenant  S>anDp 

ears.  Two  men  turned  down  their  glasses  and  de 
clined  to  have  them  filled.  Two  other  colored  almost 
as  red  as  the  wine  and,  solemnly  bobbing  their  heads 
to  Crabtree's  jovial  challenge  and  uplifted  glass, 
sipped  at  the  outer  edge  of  quivering  fluid,  and  then, 
glanced  furtively  about,  shamefaced  and  unhappy. 
The  glass  at  Prince's  plate  was  filled,  but  Prince 
came  not  again,  and  when  salad  was  served  Crabtree 
sent  a  messman  with  his  compliments  and  the  mes 
sage  that  dinner  was  almost  over.  The  bearer  was  a 
bright  young  Tagalog  who  had  picked  up,  among 
other  things,  an  amazing  lot  of  miscellaneous  Eng 
lish,  but  even  the  mess  was  startled  when  he  returned 
with  the  captain's  reply  to  the  effect  that  so  far  as  he 
was  concerned  dinner  was  entirely  over. 

"That  means  another  withdrawal,"  muttered 
Walker  to  his  next  neighbor,  and  the  neighbor  nodded. 
"I'm  going,  too,  quick  as  I  can  find  board  elsewhere." 
Crabtree  looked  properly  solemn  on  receipt  of  the 
message  from  his  officer  of  the  day ;  said,  with  much 
dignity  and  deep  suggestiveness,  "Direct  the  Com- 
mahnding  Officer's  orderly  to  report  at  once,"  and 
then  turned  again  to  his  table  mates  and  elaborately 
took  up  the  subject  where  he  had  left  it  "Nothing," 
said  Crabtree,  on  a  previous  occasion,  "can  warrant/ 
a  gentleman's  introducing  a  jarring  or  unpleasant 
note  at  the  dinner  table,"  and  so  long  as  no  man 
braved  the  commanding  officer  he  lived,  as  he  believed, 
well  up  to  his  precepts.  Every  man  felt,  however, 


Lieutenant  8>anDp  Bag 

that  the  moment  dinner  was  over  the  orderly  would 
be  sent  with  instructions  for  Captain  Prince  to  re 
port  at  once  to  the  commanding  officer,  and  so  it 
proved. 

Meanwhile,  Trott  and  Hikeman,  darting  in  to 
Blunt's  quarters,  found  Prince  and  Ray  in  close  con 
ference,  while  Mrs.  Blake's  native  butler,  a  Spanish! 
taught  servitor  of  admirable  manner,  was  gathering 
up  and  clearing  away  the  remnants  of  what  must  have 
been  a  very  cosey  little  dinner  for  two.  They  saw  his 
white  ropas  disappear  in  the  dusk — not,  as  expected, 
along  the  main  driveway  toward  the  sea  gate,  but 
through  a  hole  in  the  wall  and  by  way  of  a  short  cut 
of  whose  existence  they  had  no  previous  knowledge. 

"Why,  I  never  thought  of  that  before/'  said  Trott. 
"You  can  almost  see  into  the  colonel's  back  windows." 

"I  knew  nothing  of  it — until  to-day  when  the  call 
sounded/'  answered  Ray.  "They — it  was  pointed  out 
to  me  then.  It  saves  more  than  three  hundred  yards, 
doesn't  it  ?" 

"Two  yards— back  yards,  is  to  three  hundred  ditto 
as  which  is  to  what  ?"  queried  Lieutenant  Trott,  then 
added  reflectively,  "Reckon  Walker's  the  only  man 
to  tackle  that  problem,  he's  our — figurehead." 

And  Ray  turned  slowly  and  searched  the  young 
ster's  almost  boyish  face  for  hidden  meaning.  Prince 
was  girding  on  his  sabre.  "You're  not  going  yet  ?" 
said  Sandy,  with  certain  emphasis  of  importunity. 
"I  wanted  to  talk  with  you  further." 


106         Lieutenant  San  Op  Kap 

"Oh,  I'll  be  back,  unless  he  slaps  me  in  arrest, 
too/7  answered  Prince,  flicking  a  crumb  from  his  trim 
khaki.  "Add  my  thanks  and  compliments  to  Mrs. 
[Blake  if  you  are  sending  a  note  to-night.  It  was  most 
•kind  of  her  to  include  me  when  making  up  the  din 
ner.  I  told  her  the  colonel  couldn't  get  back  too  soon 
for  any  man  in  the  garrison  except  Crab.  She  was 
out  taking  the  air  a  moment.77  And  as  he  spoke 
Prince  was  edging  toward  the  door. 

"Has  he  sent  for  you  ?77  queried  Eay. 

"No,  but  he  will,  soon7s  he7s  made  himself  com 
fortable,77  answered  Prince.  "Then  he7s  in  mood  to 
make  us  sweat,77  and  with  that  he  vanished. 

"Have  a  seat,  Trott,  and  tell  me  how  things  went  at 
the  mess,77  said  Ray,  hospitably.  He  was  still  smart 
ing  and  sore  under  the  orders  that  had  confined  him 
to  his  quarters  just  at  the  time  he  should  have  been 
afield.  "What  will  father  say  or  think,77  was  the  one 
thing  uppermost  in  his  mind.  Of  the  ultimate  result 
of  the  difference  with  his  temporary  post  commander 
Hay  had  no  dread  whatever.  He  knew  that  no  court 
would  convict  him  of  insubordination,  though  he 
might  plead  guilty  to  disrespect.  He  knew  that  Crab 
would  far  rather  settle  matters  out  of  court,  if  settle 
ment  could  be  made  on  anything  like  his  own  terms, 
but  now  that  the  command  had  gone  to  the  field  and 
with  it  all  chance  of  Ray's  going,  too,  that  young  gen 
tleman  had  been  making  up  his  mind  to  fight  the 


JLieutenant  @>antrp  Kap          107 

thing  through,  even  if  it  came  to  a  court,  to  yield  no 
point,  and  in  plain  words  to  fight  it  through  for  his 
own  name  and  reputation.  It  was  "rough"  to  have  to 
be  placed  in  arrest  just  at  such  a  time.  He  hated  to 
think  how  it  might  read  in  his  efficiency  report,  but 
that  was  one  of  the  penalties  of  being  an  officer  and 
trying  to  be  a  gentleman.  Prince,  Scammon,  even 
good  old  Stanhope,  the  chaplain,  all  agreed  that  the 
provocation  had  been  extreme,  that  Crabtree  had  been 
captious,  exacting,  suspicious  and  unjust;  that 
though  Bay's  words  might  have  savored  of  insubordi 
nation,  his  act  in  withdrawing  from  the  mess  did  not. 
No  officer  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  was  com 
pelled  to  sit  at  meat  with  others  who  had  made  the 
conditions  intolerable.  Mrs.  Blake  had  lost  no  time 
in  coming  over  to  see  Sandy  early  in  the  afternoon, 
and  though  she  would  permit  herself  no  word  of  cen 
sure  of  the  temporary  post  commander,  she  did  not 
hesitate  to  say  to  Sandy  that  Captain  Crabtree  would 
hardly  care  to  make  a  court  case  of  the  affair,  and, 
knowing  the  captain,  she  could  not  blame  Sandy  at 
all,  nor  should  "Uncle  Legs"  when  he  came,  as  come 
he  should  right  soon,  Mrs.  Blake  would  see  to  that. 
Meanwhile  she  meant  to  see  to  it  that  Sandy  had 
every  possible  comfort.  Hence  her  sending  the  Span 
ish  bred  butler  with  a  most  appetizing  luncheon  and 
later  with  a  capital  dinner  for  two.  The  waiter  from 
the  mess  who  arrived,  somewhat  similarly  laden,  soon 
after  one  o'clock,  was  met  at  the  doorway  by  Hilario 


108         Lieutenant  ®anDp 

and  the  information  that  nothing  was  needed  now 
and  nothing  would  be  in  the  future.  The  treasurer, 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  received  a  note  from 
Mr.  Ray,  asking  for  his  mess  bill  and  the  immediate 
acceptance  of  his  resignation  as  a  member  of  the  con 
cern.  "Shall  I  give  this  to  Crab  2"  asked  Belden  of 
"Hasty"  Walker. 

"Not  on  your  spats,"  answered  that  unamiable 
youth.  "Wait  till  we  get  a  boarding  place  and  he 
thinks  it's  all  blown  over,  then  we'll  ram  in  half  a 
dozen." 

"Going  over  to  see  Ray  ?" 

"I  wouldn't  yesterday,"  said  Walker.  "He  rubbed 
my  fur  the  wrong  way  about  that  bugle  business  and 
we  split,  so  to  speak,  but  I'm  going  now  and  tell  him 
I'm  his  friend." 

And  go  he  did,  after  first  lighting  the  lamp  in  his 
own  quarters  and  raking  out  of  his  trunk,  by  way  of  a 
peace  offering,  some  of  the  best  Manila  cigars, 
though,  come  to  think  of  it,  he  couldn't  remember 
having  seen  Ray  smoke.  However,  he'd  take  them 
anyhow.  Ray's  quarters — Blunt' s  rather — were  just 
across  a  narrow  roadway.  Prince's  voice  and  the 
clank  of  his  sabre  had  been  audible  at  the  open  case 
ment  as  Walker  came  strolling  home  from  mess. 
Now,  however,  all  was  silence.  A  light  burned 
dimly  in  the  sitting  room,  and,  knocking  at  the  open 
door,  Walker  waited.  No  answer.  He  knocked 
again,  and  again  there  was  no  response,  so,  intent 


Lieutenant  @>anDg  Rap         109 

upon  his  mission,  Walker  tiptoed  lightly  in,  thinking 
Ray  might  be  dozing.  Both  rooms  were  tenantless. 
The  door  to  the  side  veranda  stood  wide  open.  Walker 
went  on  through,  and  at  the  west  end  of  the  little 
porch  could  just  dimly  see  his  man.  Ray  stood  with 
one  hand  upon  the  wooden  pillar,  bending  eagerly  for 
ward,  half  crouching  and  peering  at  some  object  in  the 
shadows  beyond.  Following  his  gaze,  Walker,  too, 
bent  and  stared,  for  a  vague,  slender  shape  in  woman's 
garments  was  hastening  along  a  pathway  that,  pass 
ing  close  beside  his  own  quarters,  led  almost  directly 
to  a  gateway  in  the  rear  wall  of  Blake's  courtyard. 
The  figure  vanished  among  the  deep  shadows  along 
the  wall,  but  in  the  oppressive  silence  of  the  gathering 
night,  broken  only  by  dull,  distant  boom  of  the  rising 
tide  upon  the  shore,  both  officers  heard  the  click  of  the 
iron  latch,  heard  the  creak  of  rusty  hinges,  heard  the 
gate  stealthily  closed  and  bolted.  Then  Ray  slowly- 
turned,  and  with  trouble  in  his  eyes,  unexpectedly 
faced  his  unlocked  for  visitor.  There  was  a  mo 
ment's  hesitation,  a  suggestive  pause,  then 

"Who  on  earth  was  that  ?"  said  Walker. 

"You  know — better  than  I,"  said  Ray. 


no         Lieutenant  S>anDg 


CHAPTEK  X. 

WHEN  Crabtree,  in  his  eagerness  to  serve  the  field 
column,  sent  his  post  surgeon  and  certain  of  the  hos 
pital  corps,  he  stripped  Camp  Boutelle  to  its  medical 
skin  and  left  at  least  one  important  case  to  care  for 
itself.  When  Dr.  Scammon,  in  his  zeal  to  reach  the 
wounded  and  his  grief  at  the  fate  of  his  young  friend 
and  associate,  hastened  away  on  the  trail  of  the  cav 
alry,  he  tarried  long  enough  to  pay  a  parting  visit  to 
Mrs.  Blake  and  have  a  final  look  at  his  unwelcome 
and  bothersome  patient. 

"There's  really  nothing  the  matter  with  Dean  be 
yond  the  effect  of  drugs,  liquor  and  a  bad  scare,  pos 
sibly  a  shock  that  would  hardly  have  staggered  a  man 
in  normal  condition.  He's  suffering  now  from  re 
action,  and  it  serves  him  right.  But  this  house  is  no 
place  for  him.  He's  a  nuisance  to  you  and  a  menace 
to  his  wife.  Captain  Crabtree  and  I  agree  that  he 
should  be  moved.  We  have  a  capital  sergeant  at  the 
hospital  and  a  spare  room.  There  he  can  be  treated, 
nursed  and  controlled  if  need  be.  Here  he  may  any 
moment  take  a  notion  to  get  up  and  raid  the  prem 
ises.  Mrs.  Blake,  you  must  make  her  consent  to  it." 

"It  seems  a  brutal  thing  to  do,  doctor.     Suppose 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Hap         in 

lie  does  get  up.  What  have  we  to  fear  ?  With  the 
attendant  for  one  and  our  old  Michael  for  another  and 
the  officers'  quarters  within  call  from  the  back  win 
dows,  he  can  be  easily  managed.  She  will  not  rest 
away  from  him." 

"She  will  never  get  well  anywhere  near  him,"  said 
Scammon,  decidedly.  "Let  me  see  Gertrude  a  mo 
ment." 

And  so,  pallid,  slender,  sad-eyed,  Gertrude  came 
and  submissively  followed  the  doctor  to  the  seaward 
gallery  and  there  looked  up  into  his  strong,  soldierly, 
bearded  face  and  listened.  Scammon  never  looked 
more  sturdy  and  reliable  than  when  in  campaign 
attire,  and,  as  Mrs.  Scammon  ruefully  admitted,  was 
never  happier  than  when  on  campaign.  It  was  then 
long  after  noon  of  an  exciting  day.  The  news  of  the 
ambuscade  had  come  before  ten.  The  infantry,  of 
course,  had  marched  away  before  twelve,  followed 
speedily  by  the  jogging  little  party  of  pony  riders — • 
three  hospital  men  and  three  guards,  some  leading, 
some  prodding  their  reluctant  pack  animals.  Scam 
mon,  however,  had  much  to  attend  to  and,  with  a  sin 
gle  orderly,  was  to  canter  away  after  them  in  time  to 
join  the  party  by  nightfall  at  their  bivouac  some 
twenty  miles  to  the  north.  The  road  was  open  and 
fairly  safe,  and  early  at  dawn  they  would  resume  the 
march,  eastward  now,  and  by  crooked,  tortuous  trail 
up  and  into  the  heavily  wooded  range,  following  a 
rushing  mountain  stream  that  was  at  times  a  torrent* 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Rap 

The  start  was  made  on  a  Tuesday.  By  Thursday 
evening  the  relief  should  reach  the  suffering  wounded, 
and  Forrest,  who  had  been  scouting  the  valleys  about 
the  Cayan,  and  was  probably  fuming  with  impatience 
to  push  ahead,  would  then  be  free  to  cut  loose  and  be 
after  the  renegades.  The  courier  said  they  had  gone 
northward  toward  Bontoc  and  "there  was  a  hell's 
mint  of  'em."  It  seems  that  it  was  while  Forrest's 
troopers  were  out  exploring  the  innumerable  trails 
wriggling  through  the  bamboo  and'cogon,  and  branch 
ing  in  every  direction,  that  a  sudden  rush  had  been 
made  upon  Dr.  Pitt's  little  field  hospital,  where  he 
with  his  few  assistants  were  caring  for  half  a  dozen 
troopers,  temporarily  dismounted  by  minor  maladies, 
cuts  and  scratches.  The  sergeant  and  the  guard  had 
been  vigilant,  but  what  could  they  see  or  hear  in  such 
a  jungle.  They  had  fought  manfully  and  some  were 
still  alive  when  the  rearmost  of  Forrest's  troopers 
came  clattering  back  to  the  sound  of  the  firing.  But 
besides  the  young  surgeon,  half  a  dozen  good  men  and 
true  had  gone  to  their  last  account  and  all  Camp  Bou- 
telle  was  plunged  in  mourning.  "Thank  God  for  one 
thing,"  Captain  Prince  had  said  most  piously  this 
second,  this  Wednesday  morning,  "it'll  bring  the 
old  man  back  the  moment  he  gets  the  news,  and  we'll 
have  no  more  of  this  damned  Cockney  nonsense." 

And  the  same  thought,  expressed  in  many  a  varying 
form  and  embellished  with  more  or  less  descriptive 
and  rejoiceful  profanity,  had  gone  through  the  garri- 


Lieutenant  San  Op  Kap         na 

son.  The  bachelors  had  spoken  it  under  their  breath 
at  the  breakfast  table.  The  households  along  officers7 
row  had  given  voice  to  it  at  every  meeting.  Mrs. 
Blake  even  whispered  it  hopefully  to  Mrs.  Dean.  It 
was  one  thing  Mr.  Walker  meant  to  say  to  Mr.  Ray 
when  he  made  that  evening  call  of  condolence,  but 
what  Mr.  Ray  said  to  Mr.  Walker  had  blocked  further 
amenities  of  any  kind.  A  fierce  quarrel  that  began  at 
once  in  wordy  charge  and  countercharge,  bade  fair  to 
change  to  blows  when  Prince,  bolting  in  again,  with 
Trott  again  at  his  back,  put  summary  stop  to  pro 
ceedings  and  sent  Walker,  raging,  to  the  right  about 
with  the  parting  shot  that  Ray  should  hear  from  him 
in  the  morning.  Yet  neither  officer,  in  response  to 
the  captain's  demand  at  the  time  or  Stanhope's  'pa 
ternal  questioning  later,  would  give  satisfactory  ex 
planation  as  to  the  cause. 

From  her  interview  with  Dr.  Scammon,  Miss 
Dean,  with  swimming  eyes,  went  straightway  to  her 
mother's  room,  while  the  doctor  himself  remounted  at 
the  westward  entrance  and  trotted  back  to  hospital. 
Half  an  hour  later  he  was  on  the  road  to  Santa 
Lucia  and  the  north.  Possibly  the  soothing  methods 
he  directed  the  attendants  to  adopt — possibly  the 
coming  of  the  hospital  sergeant,  armed  with  a  needle 
pointed  little  instrument — had  reduced  the  patient  to 
reason.  Possibly  a  ten-minute,  low-toned  talk  from 
Gertrude's  lips  had  wrought  the  change,  but  there 
was  neither  violence  in  language  nor  in  look  when 


114         Lieutenant  SanDp  Bag 

toward  four  o'clock  Amos  Dean  was  lifted  from  his 
bed  and  borne  to  hospital,  not  conspicuously  through! 
the  main  gate  and  past  the  mess  and  officers'  quarters, 
but  clear  around  the  clump  of  woods  and  a  tangle  of 
tropic  vegetation  to  the  north  of  Colonel  Blake's,  clear 
around  the  north  side  of  the  quadrangle,  and  so  by] 
the  rear  door  into  the  big,  roomy  hospital  and  there  in. 
a  quiet  nook,  they  bade  him  rest  and  have  no  fear. 
Messengers  should  come  to  him  from  Mrs.  Dean  everyj 
possible  hour,  and  Gertrude,  the  darling  one  should 
visit  him  before  night.  It  is  suspected  that  only  by 
yielding  on  certain  points  involving  a  more  gradual 
stoppage  of  accustomed  stimulants  did  Dr.  Scammon 
succeed  in  bringing  Dean  to  terms,  but  those  who  best 
knew  the  man  said  there  was  another  influence,  his 
love  for  that  gentle  daughter. 

And  now  was  Captain  Crabtree  between  the  horns 
of  more  than  one  dilemma.  Abroad  his  men-at-arms 
were  gone  at  his  behest,  Blunt  three  days  out  to  the 
southward  and  never  a  word  from  him  since  he 
marched  from  ruined  San  Sulpicio,  Captain  Cagger 
away  to  the  north  with  two  subalterns  and  forty; 
fighting  men,  and  with  never  a  hope  of  his  getting 
back  with  the  wounded  inside  of  a  week — one  doctor 
killed,  one  "contract"  ditto  in  the  field,  one  major 
ditto,  the  right  arm  of  the  commanding  officer,  the 
post  surgeon,  also  gone  to  the  aid  of  the  survivors 
across  the  range !  It  left  the  patients  at  the  post, 
luckily  few  in  number  and  none  of  them  dangerous, 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Bap         115 

to  the  care  of  the  hospital  sergeant,  a  faithful  and  in 
telligent  man.  Cagger  would  bring  the  wounded 
back  all  right,  said  Crab,  but  all  this  was  digression 
from  his  purpose.  Crab  had  counted  on  making  a 
name  for  himself  as  a  most  energetic  and  level 
headed  post  commander.  Blake's  sending  Forrest  to 
the  hills  was  an  inspiration;  his  subsequent  going  to 
Manila  a  godsend.  It  was  opportunity  Crabtree  long 
had  craved.  He  had  been  figuring  how  fine  it  would 
look  in  the  papers  the  moment  the  wires  wrere  again 
working.  "Camp  Boutelle,  October  29th. — Courier 
just  in  reports  stirring  engagement  between  Major 
[Forrest's  squadron  — d  Cavalry  and  ladrone  bands  in 
mountains  toward  Bontoc.  We  have  succeeded  in 
clearing  the  valleys  north  and  south  and  scattering 
the  bands  in  every  direction.  Many  important  cap 
tures.  Forrest  in  hot  pursuit.  Lieutenant  Blunt, 
whom  I  sent  with  thirty  men  to  clear  the  Dagupan 
road  and  repair  wire,  has  succeeded  in  restoring  con 
fidence  and  communication.  Full  particulars  by 
mail. — Crabtree,  Commanding." 

But  he  now  had  no  really  good  news  to  send,  as 
Forrest  had  no  way  of  sending  it,  had  he  the  news. 
Through  native  whisperings  and  rumors  he  was  be 
ginning  to  hear  of  troublous  times  for  Blunt's  little 
force.  There  might  well  be  more  of  disaster  than 
success  to  report,  and  the  general  commanding  at 
Manila  was  getting  captious  and  crotchetty,  said 
£)rabtree.  At  last  accounts  he  was  forever  wanting 


116         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

to  know  why.  Things  looked  ominous  outside  of  the 
post  and  things  were  ominously  squally  within. 

To  begin  with,  Ray's  resignation  from  the  mess  had 
been  tendered,  as  Crabtree  ascertained  by  question 
ing,  and  it  was  dawning  upon  that  self -centered  com 
manding  officer  that  this  might  be  only  the  entering 
wedge  of  an  outgoing  body.  Prince,  long  time  Crab- 
tree's  friend  and  comrade,  had  taken  sides  and  supper 
with  Ray  and  declined  to  return  to  the  fold.  The 
"confidential"  sergeant  who  had  been  doing  detective 
work,  told  Crabtree  that  everybody  said  Mr.  Walker 
was  the  man  who  played  the  bugle,  but  nobody  could 
or  would  prove  it.  The  sergeant  said  that  Mr. 
Walker,  Mr.  Trott  and  Mr.  Hikeman  as  well  as  Cap 
tain  Prince,  had  been  striving  to  find  somebody  will 
ing  to  run  a  mess  for  them.  The  wives  of  the  post  quar 
termaster  sergeant,  the  commissary  sergeant,  hospital 
sergeant  had  all  been  approached,  and  Mrs.  Cooney, 
the  matron  first  mentioned,  were  reported  seriously 
considering  the  proposition.  If  that  scheme  went 
through  and  five  of  the  eight  mess  members  seceded 
and  started  one  of  their  own,  no  matter  how  humble, 
'twould  be  better  than  the  pomp,  ceremony  and  stiff- 
necked  regulations  of  this  usurper  of  the  throne.  It 
would  break  up  the  Boutelle  Club  and  leave  Crabtree 
with  only  two  callow  and  inoffensive  subs  to  do  his 
bidding,  and  this  fell  far  short  of  his  ambition. 

At  guard  mounting  next  morning  Prince  again 
had  to  face  his  commander,  an  ordeal  from  which  ha 


Lieutenant  @anDp  Bap         nr 

shranK,  Taut  no  one  who  saw  would  dream  it.  The 
sound  of  voices  raised  in  anger  had  broken  in  upon 
the  interview  of  the  previous  evening  before  Crab- 
tree  had  fairly  warmed  up  to  his  work,  but  Prince 
knew  that  the  rasping  was  merely  postponed.  He  had 
therefore  donned  his  best  uniform  and  best  manner, 
reported  in  most  soldierly  fashion,  but  never  opened 
his  mouth  except  in  answer  to  direct  questions.  Crab- 
tree  looked  vainly  over  the  guard  report  book  in  search 
of  something  for  which  to  rebuke  and  annoy  the  offi 
cer  of  the  day,  but  the  report  was  accurate  and  pre 
cise.  Prince  and  his  credentials  were  beyond  criti 
cism,  so  far  as  the  book  was  concerned.  Crabtree  saw 
he  must  fall  back  on  the  doings  of  yesterday,  and  fall 
he  did,  and  as  Prince  later  described  it,  "fell  down." 
Prince  told  his  brother  captain  and  emergency  com 
manding  officer  that  he  declined  to  listen  to  frivolous 
and  vexatious  charges,  and  that  he,  Captain  Crab- 
tree,  had  erred  gravely  in  the  treatment  accorded 
Lieutenant  Eay,  and  that  he,  Prince,  would  be  a  wit 
ness  for  Eay  if  the  case  were  ever  investigated.  In 
less  than  three  minutes  Crabtree's  soul  was  in  arms 
and  eager  for  the  fray.  All  this,  to  his  mind,  was 
tantamount  to  utter  defiance  to  the  commanding 
officer. 

And  so,  as  luck  would  have  it,  at  the  very  moment 
that  gentle-minded  soldier  of  the  cross,  good,  gray- 
haired  Stanhope,  sallied  forth  to  see  Crabtree,  after  a 
long  conference  with  Eay,  now  bitterly  distressed  in 


118         Lieutenant  SanDg  Rap 

mind  and  ready  to  make  any  honorable  concession  to 
gain  his  release  and  the  route  to  his  regiment,  Crab- 
tree  was  hardening  his  heart  in  the  lust  for  vengeance. 
Stanhope  came,  bearing  the  olive  branch  and  suing 
for  peace.  Crab  met  him  with  charges  of  conspiracy 
on  part  of  the  mess,  with  Prince  and  Ray  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  mischief,  and  followed  this  with  an  intima 
tion  that  Stanhope  was  something  more  than  a  spir 
itual  advisor.  The  chaplain  was  fairly  stunned. 

"It  is  the  first  time  my  commanding  officer  has  ever 

accused  me  of "  began  Stanhope,  "and  my  cloth 

— to  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England — should 
have  protected  me.'7 

Crab  flushed  hotly  and  anew.  Was  he  never  to  get 
the  upper  hand  ?  Was  he  never  to  silence  these  re 
calcitrants  ?  Stanhope's  riposte  was  more  than  telling, 
for  in  his  loyalty  to  every  custom  of  his  native  land, 
Crabtree  had  often  declaimed  upon  the  influence  of 
the  English  service  upon  the  officers  and  men,  the 
field  altar,  drum  built  and  covered  with  the  Union 
Jack,  the  officiating  priest  in  cap  and  canonicals.  He 
had  even  contemplated  church  parade  as  a  possibility 
at  Boutelle,  a  public  service  in  the  open,  and  in  ac 
cordance  with  the  stately  and  impressive  ritual  of  the 
Anglican  faith,  but  here  now  was  even  the  meek  and 
lowly  chaplain  turning  like  the  trodden  worm  and 
daring  to  upbraid  him.  If  Crab  had  had  half  as 
much  sense  as  he  had  grit  and  determination,  he 
might  have  been  an  ideal  commander,  but,  in  his 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Bag         119 

wrath  at  finding  his  every  move  obstructed,  and  al 
most  his  every  officer  obstructive,  he  blundered  on, 
fighting  with  all  his  might  and  backing  himself  to 
win,  as  his  bull  dog  countrymen  won  their  occasional 
battle,  "by  main  strength  and  stupidity. " 

Stanhope  had  come  to  plead  for  Ray,  and  left  with 
the  conviction  that  he  might  have  to  do  battle  for  him 
self.  Later  in  the  day,  with  his  points  carefully  re 
duced  to  writing,  he  had  called  at  the  commanding 
officer's  quarters  in  quest  of  an  interview.  The  or 
derly  went  in  with  his  card  and  Stanhope  waited  on 
the  veranda  in  the  shade  of  the  hanging  curtains.  At 
first  the  orderly's  half-timid  tapping  at  some  inner 
doorway  met  with  no  response.  It  was  one  of  Crab- 
tree's  tenets  that  all  persons  about  the  post  should 
await  the  commanding  officer's  pleasure,  and  that  in 
due  regard  for  his  dignity  that  personage  should  not 
be  easy  of  access.  There  was  presently  sound  of 
splashing,  and  later  an  impatient,  "Well,  what  now, 
orderly  ?" 

"A  caller,  sir — the  chaplain." 

"The  who  ?"  Crab  had  distinctly  heard,  but  it  was 
well  to  let  the  chaplain  feel  that  the  mention  of  his 
presence  and  office  did  not  impress  the  commanding 
officer  as  anything  calling  for  immediate  recognition. 

"The  chaplain,  sir — Captain  Stanhope."  Was  it 
possible  that  the  orderly  dared  to  even  slightly  empha 
size  that  "captain  ?" 

"Not  captain,  sir !    That  is  merely  a  matter  of  rela- 


120         Lieutenant  *anDg  Bap 

tive  rank,  sir — something  to  fix  pay  and  allowance. 
Only  the  fighting  force  have  military  titles,  sir.  Re 
member  that  I"  And  indeed  it  was  to  be  remembered 
as  one  of  Crabtree's  idiosyncracies,  that  never,  when 
he  could  avoid  it,  would  he  address  or  refer  to  "offi 
cers  of  the  departments"  save  as  paymaster,  quarter 
master  or  doctor. 

"Yes,  sir,  the  chaplain,  sir,"  answered  the  orderly, 
with  proper  meekness.  Then  more  splashing  and 
finally — 

"Er — ah — my  compliments  to  the — ah — chaplain. 
Say  the  commahnding  officer  is  in  the  bahth  and  er — 
ah — will  send  for  him  when  he  wishes  to  converse." 

And  with  this  for  his  answer,  never  waiting  for  its 
repetition  by  the  orderly,  the  good  old  gentleman 
turned  away  with  a  sigh,  and  went  sadly  on  to  Ray's, 
finding  Prince  at  the  gate. 

"Sure  he  didn't  say  he  was  fra/ithing?"  demanded. 
Prince,  in  high  dudgeon,  when  Stanhope,  half  rue 
fully,  half  humorously  told  his  tale.  "I've  been  that 
fellow's  friend  a  dozen  years  and  found  him  a  good 
soldier  and  a  square  man.  It  does  seem  as  though 
you  never  get  to  know  the  real  calibre  of  an  officer 
until  he  steps  into  command." 

"It  is  Mr.  Ray's  discomfiture  that  troubles  me," 
said  Stanhope.  "Every  hour  he  is  kept  here  now  is 
like — disgrace  to  him." 

"By  jove,"  said  Prince,  with  clinching  teeth.    "I'm 


Lieutenant  Sanflp  Bap         121: 

going  to  make  one    more    try.      Come    what   may, 
Crab's  got  to  be  brought  to  his  senses !" 

And  so,  bristling  with  indignation,  with  rankling 
sense  of  indignity  and  injustice,  the  captain  started 
on  his  diplomatic  mission,  and  every  man  with  half  a 
head  could  have  told  what  would  come  of  it. 


122         lieutenant  *anDp  Bag 


CHAPTEK  XL 

IT  was  along  toward  four  o'clock  that  afternoon 
that  Mrs.  Blake,  following  the  short  cut,  left  the  path 
way  back  of  Walker's  and  came  around  to  the  shaded 
front  of  Ray's  quarters,  only  to  find  the  veranda  de 
serted.  She  was  vaguely  troubled  over  the  story  that 
had  come  to  her  about  the  quarrel  between  the  two 
young  officers,  a  something  that  assumed  in  her  mind 
rather  more  consequence  at  the  time  than  the  exas 
perating  and  distressing  misadventures  that  had  be 
fallen  the  squadron.  She  had  heard  of  the  affair 
through  Mrs.  Scammon  and  Mrs.  Shane,  who  had 
called  for  comfort  and  the  sea  breezes  during  the 
morning,  and  the  chaplain  with  his  devoted  wife, 
coming  to  see  how  they  could  serve  her  guest  and  pa 
tient,  Mrs.  Dean,  corroborated  the  story,  yet  could 
throw  no  light  upon  the  cause  of  the  trouble.  She 
was  sorely  worried,  too,  about  the  way  matters  were 
going  in  garrison.  So  far  as  she  could  judge  of  the 
various  stories,  Captain  Crabtree  was  antagonizing 
everybody  and  a  general  break-up  was  imminent  at 
the  mess.  She  was  anxious,  too,  for  Gertrude,  who 
seemed  drooping  and  ill,  yet  with  rare  pluck  and  per 
sistence  divided  her  time  between  the  invalid  mother 


JUeutenant  ^anDg  Bap         123 

under  their  roof  and  the  semi-stupefied  father  at  the 
hospital.  Something  beside  anxiety  on  account  of  her 
parents,  and  grief  on  account  of  her  brother,  was 
surely  weighing  upon  that  gentle  young  heart — some 
thing  Mrs.  Blake  could  neither  fathom  nor  alleviate. 
Twice  she  had  found  Gertrude  in  tears,  alone  on  the 
veranda.  The  more  she  saw  of  the  child  the  closer 
was  she  drawn  to  her,  and  also,  to  a  certain  extent, 
she  found  herself  attracted  by  the  mother.  There 
was  about  them  an  indefinable  something  that  told  of 
better  days  and  higher  breeding,  a  gentleness,  a  re 
finement  that  was  almost  incomprehensible  in  the 
wife  and  daughter  of  a  man  of  Dean's  unwholesome 
personality.  The  devotion  of  the  girl  to  the  invalid, 
her  tireless  soothing,  her  ceaseless  care  and  watchful 
ness  and  self-abnegation  were  remarkable  in  one  so 
young  and  fair  and  fragile.  Moreover,  with  all  her 
refinement  of  mind  and  manner,  it  must  be  owned 
that  Mrs.  Dean  was  exacting,  querulous,  even  selfish, 
and  yet  with  infinite  tact  and  patience  Gertrude 
cheered  and  served  her,  smiling  bravely  through  the 
stifling  hours,  ignoring,  playfully,  every  little  bit  of 
petulance,  fondling  and  caressing  when  the  sorrowing 
creature  gave  way  to  the  burden  of  her  many  griefs. 
Time  and  again  Mrs.  Blake  would  send  Gertrude 
from  the  sick  room  with  injunction  to  rest  and  sleep, 
but  the  faintest  sound  would  bring  her  back,  all  simu 
lated  cheeriness  and  confidence. 

Before  they  had  been  forty-eight  hours  in  her  care 


124        JLiewenam  Santig 

Mrs.  Blake  had  lived  over  in  memory  years  of  her 
own  maidenhood,  years  when  she,  too,  a  slip  of  a  girl, 
almost  alone  and  unaided  had  watched  over  a  way 
ward  father,  shunned  by  many  even  as  Dean  was 
shunned  to-day,  and  had  taken  Gertrude  into  her 
heart  of  hearts  as  she  might  have  taken  her  other  self, 
as  she  might  have  held  and  cherished  the  beloved 
child  lost  so  many  a  long  year  ago. 

And  in  the  midst  of  all  her  cares  and  perplexities 
Gertrude  saw  this  and  marveled,  saw  this  and  almost 
shrank,  for  even  now  when  the  guest,  the  beneficiary 
of  this  most  generous  and  charitable  and  kindly 
woman,  it  was  her  fate  to  have  to  play  a  part,  to  con 
ceal  a  crime,  to  blind  that  gentle  friend,  if  possible, 
to  a  misdeed  of  which  she  was  sore  ashamed,  and  the 
consciousness  of  which  stood  like  the  angel  with  the 
flaming  sword  between  her  and  the  heaven  of  such  a 
woman's  love  and  sympathy. 

And  so,  into  the  life  that  seemed  so  placid  and  un- 
vexed  when  her  colonel  was  hurried  away,  there  had 
come  to  Mrs.  Blake  a  multitude  of  worries,  of  which 
Sandy  Ray,  son  of  her  oldest  and  most  devoted  army 
friends,  was  by  no  means  the  least.  She  had  come  in 
search  of  him  this  sunny  afternoon,  and  the  quarters 
seemed  abandoned.  No  one  was  visible  on  either 
front  or  side  veranda,  no  one  was  in  the  sitting  room, 
no  one  lay  in  siesta  upon  the  big  four  poster.  It  could 
be  plainly  seen  through  the  wide  open  casement  from 
-which  the  curtain  had  been  swept  aside.  Across  the 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Hap         125 

narrow  roadway  Walker's  bungalow  seemed  equally 
desolate.  Beyond,  along  the  row,  a  white  skirt 
showed  in  the  swaying  hammock  under  one  or  two  of 
the  broad,  nipa  awnings.  Two  officers  were  in  con 
versation  on  the  Fethers'  veranda,  where  Mrs.  Fethers 
sat  listening  with  upturned  face.  The  orderly  was 
missing  in  front  of  Captain  Crabtree's,  which  meant 
that  that  officer  was  elsewhere,  possibly  at  the  office, 
and  if  so  Sandy  might  be  there,  sent  for  to  receive 
some  further  admonition  or  rebuke  at  the  hand  of  this 
strange  combination  of  soldiership  and  absurdity. 
Mrs.  Blake  decided  to  wait  awhile,  and  took  a  chair 
near  the  northward  window,  that  which  gave  light  and 
air  to  the  sitting  room  on  that  side.  Two  minutes 
later  she  heard  the  patter  of  bare  feet  on  the  India 
matting.  Somebody  had  come  from  the  servants' 
premises  into  Sandy's  bedroom,  and,  never  doubting 
that  it  was  Blunt's  stolid,  sphinx-like  servitor, 
Hilario,  she  called  his  name.  Dead  silence  followed. 
She  called  again  and  there  was  no  reply.  A  board 
creaked.  Something  snapped  like  bamboo.  She 
thought  she  heard  a  scurry  on  the  back  porch,  but  art 
immediate  and  careful  search  showed  all  rooms 
empty  and,  from  the  back  steps,  along  the  row  in 
either  direction  not  a  soul  was  in  sight. 

Turning  again  to  the  front,  annoyed  and  mystified, 
she  was  about  to  summon  the  officers  at  Fethers  when, 
coming  swiftly  from  the  direction  of  the  adjutant's 
office,  looking  neither  to  right  nor  left,  but  walking 


126         Lieutenant  §>anDp 

stiffly,  angrily,  hurriedly,  came  Sandy  himself,  and 
she  waited.  At  sight  of  her  his  face  brightened  just 
an  instant.  Then  with  lips  that  twitched  and  trem 
bled  uncontrollably  he  stood  before  her,  took  her  hand 
in  both  his  own  and  tried  to  speak.  She  saw  his  agi 
tation — saw  that  he  was  struggling  hard  against  an 
unmanly  break  down.  "Wait  a  minute,"  she  said, 
reassuringly.  "We'll  come  round  to  this  later.  Tell 
me  first,  where  is  Hilario?  I  thought  it  was  he  I 

heard  in  your  room  just  now,  but " 

"There  wasn't  anybody  there,"  said  Sandy, 
promptly.  "Hilario  went  to  town  early  this  morning. 
You  know  he's  looking  after  Walker  as  well  as  me. 
Trott  came  over  late  last  night  to  explain.  You 
know — I  'spose  you've  heard — that  Walker  and  I  had 


a  row." 


"I  did  hear  it,  Sandy,"  she  answered,  gently,  still 
studying  his  flushed  and  troubled  face,  "and  I  won't 
ask  you  why  just  now.  Let  me  tell  you  first  that  there 
was  somebody  in  your  room — some  barefooted  some 
body  that  stole  away  when  I  called  Hilario.  You 
cannot  be  too  careful  about  these  native  servant  boys. 
Have  you  lost  nothing  lately  ?" 

He  had,  but  how  could  he  tell  her  ?  He  had  lost 
it  under  her  roof,  and,  as  he  believed,  at  the  hands  of 
her  guest,  this  girl  who  by  night  was  following 
Walker  into  the  dark  aisles  of  the  grove,  this  girl 
;whom  he  had  seen  speeding  through  the  dusk  from 


Lieutenant  %anDg  Kap         127 

Walker's  door  to  that  hidden  gateway  in  Blake's  back 
wall. 

"I  haven't  anything  worth  stealing/'  said  he.  "The 

I  little  money  I  have — had — was  left  in  bank.    I  shall 

'be  strapped  until  pay  day — had  to  give  a  cheek  for 

my  mess  bill.     That's  one  thing  Crabtree  is  raving 

about  now.    The  caterer's  perfectly  willing  to  take  it 

— says  he  will  need  to  send  money  to  Manila,  and  the 

check  is  just  what  he  wants,  but,  why,  Aunt  Nannie, 

this  man  is  acting  like  a  lunatic.     He  and  Prince, 

now,  have  had  a  racket,  just  when  it  looked " 

"Tell  me  that  later,  Sandy,"  she  interposed,  noting 
again  the  threatening  symptoms.  "You  had  nearly 
seventy  dollars  the  other  day.  You  told  me  so  when 
I  warned  you  to  keep  everything  double  locked." 

"I've — been  lending,"  and  the  flush  deepened. 

"But  wasn't  that  a  check  ?"  she  asked.  "Mr.  Blunt 
said  so." 

"You  don't  mean  Bl— he  told!" 

"Mr.  Blunt!"  and  Aunt  Nannie's  laugh  was  good 
to  hear.  There  had  hardly  been  a  smile  on  the  face 
of  Camp  Boutelle  all  the  livelong  day.  "There  never 
was  so  frank  and  outspoken  a  creature  about  his  own 
»•  affairs,  at  least.  He  almost  shouted  that  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  you  a  note  of  his  would  go  to  protest.  I 
wish  we  might  hear  from  him,"  and  again  the  anx 
ious  look  returned.  "Perhaps  Hilario  will  bring  tid 
ings.  These  people  are  like  our  Indians  in  the  way] 
of  getting  news." 


128         Hieiitenam  San  Dp  Bap 

"But  they're  bigger  liars.  You  can't  believe  any 
thing  they  tell  you,"  said  Sandy,  eager  to  divert  her 
from  the  money  question.  "Walker's  muchacho 
skipped  with  much  of  his  cash  ten  days  ago,  and  these 
others  all  swore  he'd  only  gone  to  his  grandmother's 
funeral." 

"Did  Mr.  Trott  say  why  Hilario  was  wanted  to 
go  to  town  ?"  she  suddenly  asked. 

Trott  did  say  and  it  was  just  exactly  what  Sandy 
wished  to  avoid  telling.  He  reddened  still  more  and 
stumbled  hopelessly.  She  saw  it  and  pursued. 

"It  isn't  idle  curiosity,  Sandy.  It  is  something  I 
need  to  know  and  have  reason  to  ask.  ,Was  it  not  for 
Gertrude  Dean  T 

It  was,  and  Eay  could  not  and  would  not  tell  her. 
Even  now  his  nerves  were  tingling  as  they  began  the 
night  before  when  Trott  came,  in  three  hours  after 
the  quarrel,  with  a  note  from  Walker.  Sandy,  look 
ing  for  a  challenge  or  a  demand  or  something  trucu 
lent  from  his  late  antagonist,  read  with  open-eyed 
astonishment.  In  few  words  Walker  managed  to  say 
that  Hilario  was  the  only  one  who  could  be  trusted  to 
"go  and  deliver  a  message  and  bring  a  package  for 
Miss  Dean,  and  in  spite  of  misunderstandings,  past, 
present  or  future,  Mr.  Walker  asked  Mr.  Ray's  con 
sent  to  Hilario's  going.  Then  that  girl  had  been  to 
see  Walker.  She,  Aunt  Nannie's  guest  and  protegee, 
and  now  Aunt  Nan  "needed  to  know" — "had  reason 
to  ask"  about  her. 


Lieutenant  §>an0p  Rag         129 

What  a  predicament  for  a  man  like  Sandy  Ray, 
•who  somehow  couldn't  lie,  for  now  Aunt  Nannie 
stood  gazing  at  him,  with  wonderment  in  her  eyes. 
He  thanked  heaven  for  the  sight  of  Fethers,  belted, 
booted  and  spurred,  coming  tramping  up  the  steps. 
Mrs.  Blake  turned  instantly  at  sound  of  the  sabre 
and  paled  at  sight  of  the  official  visitor.  What  new 
trouble  did  this  portend  for  the  son  of  her  fondest 
friend  ? 

"I'm  sorry,  Ray,"  began  the  adjutant,  at  once,  "but 
the  commanding  officer  directs  me  to  say  that  you 
have  his  ultimatum  and  must  decide  before  retreat. 
Mrs.  Blake,  if  the  colonel  doesn't  get  back  before  I'm 
a  day  older,  I'll  be  fit  for  nothing  short  of  bedlam. 
Twice  I  have  begged  him  to  relieve  me  and  make  one 
of  his  own  people  post  adjutant,  but  he  won't,  and  it's 
— it's — well  it's  too  much  for  me  !" 

"What  is  the  ultimatum,  Sandy?"  she  quietly 
asked. 

"Demands  that  I  shall  appear  before  the  mess  and 
publicly  apologize  to  him,  acknowledge  that  I  was 
wrong  throughout,  and  ask  to  be  restored.  Then  he'll 
think  about  letting  me  go  to  my  troop.  I've  written 
him  everything — anything  a  gentleman  could  say  or 
ought  to  say,  but  he  slings  it  back.  Come,  let  me 
(show  you."  And  he  turned  impulsively  and  led 
through  the  front  room  to  his  desk  in  the  second,  the 
bedroom,  Mrs.  Blake  and  the  adjutant  following.  A 
number  of  papers  had  fluttered  to  the  floor,  but,  pick- 


130         Lieutenant  San  Dp  IRap 

ing  up  an  official  envelope  from  a  corner  of  the  table, 
Hay  drew  forth  the  folded  contents,  duly  briefed  and 
endorsed:  The  commanding  officer  returned  the 
within  communication  with  the  remark  that,  "infer- 
entially,  the  methods  and  policy  of  the  present  admin 
istration  are  reflected  upon  herein.  When  the  writer 
can  submit  a  plea,  couched  in  respectful  and  temper 
ate  language,  it  will  be  given  all  proper  considera 
tion." 

"There  isn't  a  disrespectful  word  in  it !"  cried  poor 
Sandy,  "and  he  knows  it,  but  he's  in  a  fury  because 
Prince  butted  in  with  his  opinion  of  Crabtree's  posi 
tion,  and,  if  his  old  friend  falls  out  with  him,  and  his 
adjutant  begs  to  be  relieved,  and  nobody  else  will  go 
near  him,  and  the  mess  is  broken  up,  he  must  see  and 
does  see  that  he's  gone  too  far,  but,  knowing  that  I'm 
ready  to  do  almost  anything  to  get  away  to  my  troop, 
he  hopes  to  wring  this  admission  out  of  me.  I  cant 
do  it,  Aunt  Dannie.  I  wont  do  it !  and  I'll  bet  the 
regiment  will  say  I  was  right !" 

But  Aunt  Nannie's  eyes  and  thoughts  had  wan 
dered  from  the  paper  in  her  hand  to  the  rude  field 
;desk,  perched  on  its  travel-stained  box  at  the  window 
side.  The  front,  which  hinged  at  the  bottom  and, 
by  opening  outwards  and  downwards  formed  a  writ 
ing  shelf,  was  as  Sandy  had  left  it,  up  and  closed,  but 
one  or  two  papers  protruded  from  the  crack  at  the 
side.  One  or  two  had  fallen  on  the  floor  and  in  the 
semi-darkness  of  the  shaded  room  had  been  unnoticed. 


Lieutenant  @anDg  Bag 

"Did  you  lock  that  in  a  hurry,  Sandy  ?"  she  asked, 
moving  slowly  thither,  leaving  Crab's  stately  endorse 
ment  face  downward  on  the  table. 

"It  hasn't  been  open  to-day,"  said  Sandy.  "I 
wrote  nay  appeal  in  the  other  room.  Why " 

With  that,  his  cheek  paling  a  trifle,  he  picked  out 
his  keys  and  applied  one  to  the  lock.  It  yielded 
grudgingly. 

"Kusty,"  said  Sandy.  "Lots  of  rain  this  last  sum 
mer.  Needs  a  drop  of  oil,  but — it  works!"  And 
with  that  the  lock  snapped,  the  lid  came  down,  two 
or  three  papers  fell  to  the  floor,  and  the  inner  surface 
came  to  light,  enriched  with  loose  memoranda  and 
letters. 

"By  Jove !"  cried  he,  "you're  right,  Aunt  Nannie. 
Some  one's  been  raiding  this — to-day." 

Hurriedly  he  pulled  out  first  one  drawer,  then  an 
other.  Cardcase,  diary,  note  books  in  one,  check 
book  and,  underneath  it,  the  cover  of  the  ravished 
[pocket  book  in  another,  apparently  untouched.  "You 
scared  her — liim — off  before  much  damage  was 
done,"  he  went  on,  excitedly,  turning  over  the  little 
packet,  letters,  note,  envelopes,  etc.,  as  though  in 
search  of  some  one  in  particular. 

"Where'd  you  keep  your  money?"  asked  Fethers, 
in  growing  excitement.  More  than  one  story  of 
sneak  thieving  had  come  of  late  to  the  office.  "Wasn't 
that  your  only  portemonnaie  ?"  and  a  nod  at  the  hur 
riedly  closed  drawer,  wherein  lay  the  check  book. 


132         JUeutettam  SattDp  Bap 

told  that  the  quick  eye  of  the  adjutant  had  caught 
sight  of  the  little  pocket  case. 

"Yes,  but  it's  been  empty  two  or  three  days,"  said 
Sandy,  desperately. 

"Then,  Sandy,"  said  Mrs.  Blake,  and  she  spoke 
with  the  slow  deliberation  of  one  on  whom  unwelcome 
light  is  gradually,  disagreeably  dawning,  "that  ac 
counts  for  the  post  office  receipts  and  things  I  picked 
up  under  our  stairway  yesterday.  They  were  yours, 
and  that  porteinonnaie  was  emptied  at  my  house." 


lieutenant  ^anDg  Kag         isa 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IT  was  late  that  night  when  Hilario  reappeared, 
silent  and  inscrutable  as  ever.     He  blew  in,  as  Kay 
expressed  it,  just  as  that  officer  was  going  to  bed.    He 
answered  the  rapid  volley  of  questions  with  stolid 
shake  of  the  head  to  each.    Had  he  heard  anything  of 
Lieutenant  Blunt' s  command?     Had  anything  been 
heard  of  the  marauders?    Had  there  been  any  fur 
ther  trouble  at  San  Sulpicio  ?    There  were  other  ques 
tions  Kay  would  have  liked  to  ask  and  other  things 
he  much  wished  to  know,   but   they   concerned   the 
Deans,  and,  as  he  might  have  said,  were  none  of  his 
business.     Yet  under  the  circumstances  they  might 
well  be  made  his  business.     Surely,  for  instance,  he 
had  a  right  to  inquire  what  had  become  of  his  money, 
and  it  had  transpired,  in  the  course  of  the  evening 
and  conversation  with  Trott,  that  one  thing  Hilario 
,  took  with  him  was  money,  and  Trott  was  betting  that 
» neither  Hilario  nor  the  money  nor   its    equivalent, 
whatever  that  might  be,  would  ever  be  seen  at  Bou- 
telle  again.     Yet  taps  had  hardly  sounded  when  the 
sentry  at  the  seaward  gate  yelled  loud  for  the  cor 
poral,  and  there,  hat  in  hand,  standing  imperturb- 
ably  at  attention,  was  Hilario.    A  fellow  Tagalog  had 


134         Lieutenant  S>anDp 

half  sailed,  half  paddled  him  much  of  the  nine  miles 
from  town  in  his  outrigger  canoe,  riding  the  lazy  bil 
lows  like  a  sea  bird.  Hilario  had  hoped  to  reach  the 
gate,  he  said,  before  the  sentries  began  challenging 
and  had  just  missed  it.  The  corporal  took  him  to  the 
officer  of  the  day,  half  the  population  of  officers'  row 
hailing  him  in  inquisitive  succession,  and  then  he  was 
permitted  to  go  and  deliver  his  package  and  report  to 
Lieutenant  Walker,  who  damned  him  for  his  delay 
and  bade  him  take  the  package  and  himself  by  the 
shortest  route  to  Miss  Dean  at  Colonel  Blake's.  It 
was  nearly  quarter  of  eleven  when  he  came  pit-a-pat- 
ting  in  to  see  if  his  other  master  needed  him — or  any 
thing,  and  by  eleven  he  had  been  dismissed  for  the 
night.  As  a  result  of  conference  between  the  officers, 
and  at  Mrs.  Blake's  request,  nothing  was  said  to 
Hilario  about  the  desk.  The  keys  to  these  govern 
ment  affairs  were  accessible  to  many.  Every  com 
pany  had  its  field  desk,  though  none  of  them  took 
theirs  to  such  a  field  as  was  found  in  Northern  Luzon. 
There  were  others  at  regimental,  battalion  and 
squadron  headquarters.  Several  officers  had  "accu 
mulated"  at  least  one,  though  for  individual  pur 
poses  they  were  more  cumbersome  than  useful.  There 
were  a  dozen  ways  in  which  a  would-be  pilferer  could 
possess  himself  of  the  key,  and  at  least  one  keyless 
way  of  opening  the  best  of  them.  But  what  puzzled 
Ray  and  Fethers  was  that  nothing  of  value  had  been 
taken  from  the  desk.  Indeed,  there  was  little  of 


JUemenant  @>atttip  map         135 

lvalue  in  it.  Postage  stamps  in  oiled  silk  folders  and 
some  fine  photographs,  maps,  etc.,  were  almost  the 
only  things  that  could  be  converted  into  cash,  yet  the 
marauder  had  pulled  out  papers,  letters  and  the  mis 
cellaneous  contents  of  the  drawers  as  though  search 
ing  for  something  to  reward  his  efforts.  The  trunk 
with  its  heavy  spring  lock  had  apparently  not  been 
tampered  with,  nor  was  it  possible  to  say  at  what  time 
this  bit  of  cracksmanship  had  been  accomplished. 
Probably  before  Mrs.  Blake's  advent  and  soon  after 
Kay  was  summoned  to  the  presence  of  the  -post  com 
mander,  for  the  mysterious  visitor -whose  entrance  she 
had  heard  took  flight  at  sound  of  her  voice  without 
having  had  time  to  overhaul  anything. 

It  had  been  a  trying — an  exciting — day  to  Ray, 
for,  to  fill  up  the  evening,  there  had  come  three  con 
spirators  to  say  that  on  the  morrow  they,  too,  would 
resign  from  the  mess,  Mrs.  Sergeant  Cooney  being 
now  ready  to  undertake  temporarily  to  board  them, 
and  thus  would  Crabtree  be  left  almost  alone.  It  was 
conjectured  that  he  would  declare  the  mess  closed 
until  the  return  of  the  field  column,  that  he  would 
"board  around"  as  best  he  could  or  live  on  his  indi 
vidual  mess  kit.  Trott  said  that  Crabtree  could  be 
relied  on  to  endeavor  to  rule  them  out  of  the  mess 
should  they  propose  to  rejoin  when,  once  again,  Major 
Forrest  was  restored  to  his  own.  Then  with  well 
meant  but  mistaken  zeal,  Trott  and  Hikeman  had 
been  striving  to  patch  up  a  truce  between  Eay  and 


136         Lieutenant  SanDg  Bap 

iWalker,  meeting  with  precious  little  encouragement 
from  the  one  and  much  that  was  objurgation  from 
the  other.  Neither  man  would  budge  an  inch,  and 
neither  would  give  the  faintest  inkling  of  the  cause. 
"It  is  purely  a  personal  matter/'  said  Ray,  "and  no » 
one's  business  but  his  and  mine.  If  Mr.  Walker 
wants  anything  from  me  he  knows  how  to  get  it — at 
least  he  should  know,  if  he  knows  anything — reput 
able."  As  for  Mr.  Walker  himself  he  swore  so  at 
Hilario  that  even  that  stolid  and  unimpressionable 
servitor  well  nigh  changed  color.  Walker  had  been 
in  a  nasty  mood  for  two  days  anyhow,  said  Trottr  and 
he  almost  wished  that  Ray  had  punched  his  head. 

In  spite  of  all  these  distractions,  however,  Ray  was 
soon  asleep,  and  long  before  midnight  all  the  garrison, 
save  the  guard,  seemed  wrapped  in  slumber.  Even 
at  the  post  hospital  the  lights  burned  dim,  and  there 
was  barely  a  movement  on  part  of  the  few  attendants. 
The  third  relief  marched  like  noiseless  specters  from 
the  guard  house  at  11 :30  and,  having  changed  sen 
tries  at  the  storehouses,  stables  and  east  gate,  started 
along  the  south  front  and  on  the  side  of  the  straggling 
little  native  village  to  pick  up  Numbers  Four  and 
Five  and  then,  turning  northward  at  the  beach,  to  look 
up  Number  Six  at  the  seaward  front.  It  was  a  very 
still  night;  the  light  sea  breeze  had  died  away  and 
only  plashing  wavelets  spent  their  puny  strength 
upon  the  sand.  Corcoran,  corporal  in  charge,  was 
saying  to  Number  Five  of  the  second  relief  as 


Lieutenant  S>anDp  Bap         isr 

turned  the  corner  and  trudged  along  toward  the  gate, 
that  it  was  his  belief  they  had  come  just  in  time  to 
prevent  his  falling  asleep  on  post.  "Ye  were  more 
asleep  than  awake  when  we  stumbled  on  ye,  Five,  and 
ye  know  it,"  said  he.  Then,  as  they  came  within 
hailing  distance  of  the  gate,  "and  so's  Number  Six, 
bedad,  for  there's  devil  a  sign  of  him."  Square  up 
to  the  whitewashed  portal  they  marched,  and  still 
there  came  no  challenge,  yet  Six  was  one  of  their  most 
reliable  men,  and  his  call  the  hour  before,  when  sum 
moning  the  corporal  to  greet  Hilario,  rang  out  clear 
and  strong.  Now  he  was  nowhere  in  sight,  and  to 
Corcoran's  "Where  are  you,  Six  ?"  there  came  no  re 
sponse  whatever. 

"Stay  you  here,  fellers!"  said  he.  "May  be  he's 
heard  something  over  by  the  colonel's,"  and,  with  his 
rifle  at  trail,  the  corporal  ran  nimbly  up  the  shell 
walk  to  where  the  huge  bulk  of  the  Spanish  house 
stood  black  against  the  stars  of  the  northern  sky. 
Blake  would  not  have  a  sentry  in  front  of  his  quar 
ters.  "Let  Number  Six  scout  up  here  if  he  hears  any 
thing  amiss,"  said  he,  "but  otherwise  his  post  is  at  the 


Not  until  Corcoran  was  almost  under  the  over 
hanging  gallery  did  he  stumble  on  his  man.  Seated 
on  a  stone,  his  head  tilted  forward  on  his  breast,  his 
rifle  lying  on  the  sands  beside  him,  breathing  heavily 
and  apparently  sound  asleep,  was  the  missing  sentry. 
Corcoran  grabbed  him  by  the  collar  and  shook  him 


ass         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

hard.  "Wake,  you  loon !"  lie  hoarsely,  angrily  railed 
at  him.  "Here's  the  whole  damn  relief  not  fifty 
yards  away,  and  what  am  I  to  tell  'em?  What  the 
hell  d'ye  mean  by  squattin'  right  here  at  the  colonel's  ? 
[Wake,  Andy,  I  say !"  For  the  man  seemed  strangely, 
stupidly  dazed  and  torpid.  "Wake  or  I'll  kick  the 
hide  off  ye !  Here,  take  your  gun  and — shall  I  trow 
ye  in  the  bay  or  will  ye  wake  wid  a  batin7  ?"  And 
now  in  his  wrath  Corcoran  was  cuffing  his  fellow  sol 
dier,  who  stumbled  feebly  about,  mumbling  inarticu 
late  protest.  "What  the  hell's  the  matter  wid  ye, 
Brewster  ?"  was  the  next  question,  anxious  now,  for 
this  could  have  been  no  natural  sleep.  "Sure  you 
haven't  been  drinkin' !"  But  Private  Brewster  could 
only  lift  a  nerveless,  wandering  hand,  then  inconti 
nently  doubled  up  and  squatted  "tumblewise,"  as 
Mulvaney  would  have  it,  again.  It  was  plain  that 
he  could  not  walk  unaided. 

Corcoran  hurried  back  and  called  two  of  his  men, 
and  with  the  others  gazing  after  them  startled,  re 
turned  at  the  double,  and  between  them  heaved 
Brewster  to  his  feet  and  then  shuffled  him  along. 
Posting  Number  Six  of  the  third  relief,  the  corporal 
bade  them  lead  their  semi-dazed  comrade  to  the  silent 
mess  building,  where  there  stood  a  tank  of  fresh  wa 
ter.  "Douse  him  well  with  it,"  said  he,  "an?  jump 
him  round  a  bit  Sure  'twill  never  do  to  let  the  cap 
tain  see  him  like  this.  Stay  wid  him,  you  two,  Pratt 


Lieutenant  SanUp  Kap         139 

and  Roberts.     The  rest  of  ye  fall  in.     I'll  be  back 
soon  as  I've  relieved  Seven  and  Eight/7 

Then  once  again  the  relief  trudged  away  in  the  dim 
starlight,  the  two  file  leaders,  Numbers  Seven  and 
Eight,  had  started  to  turn  west  toward  the  gate  again, 
but  Corcoran  checked  them.  "We'll  tako  the  short 
cut  across,"  said  he,  anow  that  we're  inside.  Break 
step  and  go  soft."  They  were  across  the  shell  road 
now  and  picking  an  easy  way  through  the  stunted 
shrubbery  and  sandy  hummocks  that  lay  back  of  the 
west  row  of  officers'  quarters.  To  their  left,  as  they 
hurried  along,  was  the  thicket  of  palm ;  beyond  that 
the  massive,  breast-high  wall  that  stretched  from  the 
gate  to  the  enclosure  in  which  stood  the  handsome  old 
Spanish  house,  now  assigned  to  Colonel  Blake.  To 
their  left  front  as  they  zig-zagged  through  the  grove 
they  could  catch  an  occasional  glimpse  of  its  black 
and  bulky  outline,  not  a  spark  visible  on  the  eastward 
facade  or  among  the  few  outbuildings  where  some  of 
the  native  families  slept.  To  their  right  was  the 
light-built  row  of  story  and  a  half  cottages,  mostly 
pine,  bamboo  and  nipa,  the  houses  of  the  officers  of 
the  garrison,  with  here  and  there  a  night  lamp  glow 
ing  dim,  dull  and  red  in  the  general  gloom.  Presently 
they  emerged  from  the  shadows  and  found  themselves 
on  more  open  ground,  with  the  high  back  wall  of  the 
colonel's  "compound"  directly  at  their  left  hand. 
Another  moment  and  they  stumbled  upon  a  faint 
pathway,  crossing  diagonally  their  line  of  direction, 


140         Lieutenant  §>anDg 

and  again  the  leaders  would  have  edged  off  as  though 
to  follow  this,  rather  than  essay  the  dark  depths  of 
another  grove  now  looming  between  them  and  the 
northward  stars,  but  Corcoran,  in  gruff  whisper, 
headed  them  on.  Just  at  its  edge,  Number  Eight 
kicked  at  something  white,  and  tangled  his  "hiking" 
boot  in  the  folds,  which  old  Number  Four,  two  paces 
to  his  rear,  stooped  and  gathered  in  and  clung  to  in 
stupid  curiosity.  Corcoran  was  leading  them  and 
looking  for  the  best  way  through  this  gloomy  patch. 
Not  until  after  they  had  managed,  with  some  switch 
ing  and  scratching  and  muttered  expletive,  to  tear  a 
way  through  and  find  a  skirting  roadway  on  the  north 
side,  did  Corcoran  straighten  out  his  little  command. 
Then  Number  Seven's  impatient  challenge  was 
heard,  and  when  the  relief  halted  and  the  corporal 
went  forward  to  give  the  countersign,  Number  Four 
of  the  old  relief,  a  young  German- American,  Stein- 
mann  by  name,  had  a  chance  to  examine  his  prize, 
Number  Three  curiously  assisting.  Then  Number 
Seven  was  called  up,  the  relief  bustled  on,  the  relieved 
Number  Seven  fell  in  at  the  rear  and  forthwith  be 
gan  cursing  everybody  concerned  for  keeping  him 
over  time  on  post.  He  was  a  broken  sergeant,  a  man 
of  many  years'  service,  some  of  them  valuable,  but 
the  combination  of  a  vile  temper  with  viler  native 
liquor  had  led  to  his  undoing.  He  wouldn't  "let  up 
on  that"  as  Corcoran  mildly  suggested.  No  friendly 
non-commissioned  officer  fancies  having  to  deal  with 


Lieutenant  §>anflp  Bag         141 

a  fellow  striper  who  has  lost  his  warrant.  He 
growled  the  more  as  the  relief  went  tramping  along 
and  the  faint  lights  in  the  hospital  building  came  in 
view,  and  then,  from  under  the  shadow  of  its  west 
ward  wing  came  the  hail  of  Number  Eight,  and  Cor 
coran  half  turned  to  the  right,  shoving  the  file  lead 
ers  with  him  with  a  thrust  of  a  sturdy  elbow.  "Halt ! 
Who  is  there?"  again  came  the  challenge,  and  this 
time  Corcoran  responded  with  the  order  to  his  men, 
and  the  rifle  butts  came  down  with  a  thump  on  the 
sodden  ground. 

But  now  there  was  no  prompt  relief  of  the  sentry. 
He  had  a  tale  to  tell  and  the  others  lounged  impa 
tient,  while,  in  the  dim  shadows  ahead,  the  old  and 
new  sentries  with  the  corporal  held  unusual  confer 
ence.  It  was  the  disgruntled  Number  Seven  who  fur 
nished  the  first  explanation.  "Awe,  come  on  out  o' 
that,  Corcoran,"  he  called.  "Sure  what's  past  is  past 
and  ye  can't  betther  it.  Ould  Jim  jams  is  gone  an' 
it's  none  of  our  business.  I'm  dead  wid  loss  of  sleep, 
anyhow." 

Corcoran  was  a  little  man,  but  an  Irishman  and 
plucky.  He  came  back  toward  the  relief  instead  of 
giving  his  orders  at  the  sentry's  side.  "You'll  be 
quiet  now,  Dawson,"  said  he,  "or  I'll  find  a  way  to 
make  you.  The  time  you  should  have  talked  was 
when  that  lunatic  tore  through  the  window  and  ran 
up  to  your  post.  You  were  the  last  man  to  see  him. 
Why  didn't  you  shout  when  that  rum-suckin'  thief 


142         JLiemenant  ®anDp  Bap 

caine  tumbling  onto  your  post  ?  That  was  the  time  to 
talk !  Come  on,  fellers.  We've  got  something  to  tell 
?em  at  the  guard  house  and  no  time  to  lose." 

He  had  hoped  to  find  no  one  higher  than  the  ser 
geant  there,  but  even  in  the  dark  Corcoran  knew  the 
soldierly  form  standing  lonely  near  the  saluting  gun. 
He  had  hoped  to  be  permitted  to  dismiss  the  relief 
without  reference  to  the  absence  of  the  three  men, 
and  to  explain  that  matter  to  the  sergeant  later.  But 
there  stood  Lieutenant  Trott,  the  officer-of-the-day, 
and  there  was  no  help  for  it.  There,  too,  oddly 
enough,  in  earnest  conversation  with  Trott,  was  Cap 
tain  Prince.  ]Now,  what  could  that  portend  ? 

"Three  absent,  sir;  Two,  Three  and  Six,"  he  re 
ported,  as  the  sergeant  stepped  forward  to  inspect. 

"Why  '?"  demanded  Trott,  coming  impatiently  for 
ward.  "Had  he,  too,  heard?"  thought  Corcoran. 
"Why — and  what  became  of  them  ?" 

"Six  is  sick,  sir.  Left  him  with  Two  and  Three  to 
look  after  him  over  by  the  mess,  sir.  I  was  goin'  to 
fetch  ?em  in  now."  And  still  the  relief  stood  waiting, 
patient  and  controlled,  yet  eager  to  dismiss. 

"Did  you  leave  word  at  hospital  as  you  came  by  ?" 
inquired  the  officer. 

"No,  sir,"  hesitated  Corcoran.  "There  was  no 
one  to  leave  word  with.  The  hospital  sergeant  and 
attendant  are  both  out  hunting  up  a  patient  that 
broke  loose." 


jUetitenant  ^anDp  Kap 

"Dean?'7  demanded  the  officer-of-the-day,  at  once. 
Instinctively  he  felt  it  must  be  he. 

"Dean,  sir,"  was  the  answer.  "They  say  he  got 
whiskey,  somehow,  and  after  a  good  start  on  that  he 
made  a  break  for  the  outside — and  got  that,  too." 

"Was  everything — quiet — round  by  the  colonel's  ?" 
inquired  Captain  Prince,  one  thought  following  an 
other  in  quick  succession,  and  he  looked  searchinglyj 
into  Corcoran's  face,  showing  red  in  the  gleam  from 
the  sergeant's  lantern. 

"Quiet  ?  Yes,  sir,  perfectly  quiet."  Too  damned 
quiet,  he  would  have  added,  as  his  thoughts  reverted 
to  dumber  Six  and  his  stupor.  How  he  wished  the 
captain  would  quit  questioning,  but  Prince  was 
abnormally  inquisitive  when  it  was  neither  his 
guard,  nor,  as  Corcoran  would  have  it,  his  business. 
Still  holding  the  relief  in  ranks,  the  officer  queried. 

"Which  way  did  he  go  and  who  were  after  him? 
WThy  didn't  they  call  the  guard  ?"  he  demanded,  stern 
and  suspicious  now,  for  Corcoran's  Irish  eye  was 
shifting  and  his  manner  evasive. 

"Number  Eight  can  tell,  sir.    I  don't  know." 

Prince  turned  to  his  lieutenant. 

"Speak  up,  Eight,"  said  Trott.  "When  was  it — 
first?" 

"Near  an  hour  ago,  sir.  Soon  after  eleven,  the 
pill  —  the  attendant  said,"  and  Eight  had  no  scru 
ples.  Eight  was  eager  to  tell  and  clear  himself. 

"Why  didn't  you  give  the  alarm?" 


144         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

"  'Cause  I  didn't  know  nothin'  about  it,  sir,  till 
they  came  and  told  me  later.  He  didn't  get  away 
over  my  beat." 

"Who  first  told  you  ?  How  did  you  get  to  know 
it  ?"  asked  Prince. 

"The  'tendant,  sir,  came  blowing  back  'bout  half 
past  eleven,  and  said  a  man  with  the  horrors  had 
skipped,  an'  he  thought  he  was  drowned." 

"Then  he  went  out  the  front  way — and  out  to  the 
sea  ?" 

"He  started  that  way,  sir,  but — "  and  Number 
Eight  stopped,  with  a  gulp. 

"How  do  you  mean  started  that  way  ?"  said  Trott. 

"  'Twas  the  south  window  by  his  bed,  sir,  he  went 
through.  Then  he  must  ha'  took  'long  back  of  the 
north  line,  sir.  He  didn't  cross  me  !" 

"You  mean  that  he  went  up  back  of  your  post 
toward  Number  Seven,  is  that  it?"  demanded  Trott. 

Another  gulp  was  the  inarticulate  answer.  Public 
shifting  of  blame  to  a  comrade's  shoulders,  even  when 
that  other  is  no  friend,  wins  no  man  honors  in  the 
rank  and  file,  but  Trott  was  not  to  be  denied.  Again 
he  demanded: 

"It  was  through  Number  Seven  he  got  away,  was 
it  ?  How's  that,  Dawson  ?" 

And  then  came  sudden  distraction ;  the  sharp  chal 
lenge  of  the  sentry  in  front  of  the  guard  house;  the 
instant  answer  in  a  well-known  voice : 

"Commahnding  officer  and  adjutant !" 


Lieutenant  ©anDp  Bap         145- 

Then  the  sentry's  response :  "Copple  the  Ga-a-ahd, 
commending  officer  and  adjutant !" 

Whereat  a  snicker  shook  the  rear  rank.  Regula 
tions  imposed  upon  Xumber  One  the  duty  of  repeat 
ing,  verbatim,  the  response  to  his  challenge,  leaving 
to  the  corporal  of  the  relief  the  task  of  further  investi 
gation.  The  sentry  couldn't  say  "commahnding" 
without  precipitating  a  chuckle  and  being  charged 
with  daring  to  mimic  the  post  commander.  He 
couldn't  come  out  flat  voweled,  without  possible  sus 
picion  of  correcting  his  superior's  English.  He  com 
promised  with  a  comical  swallow  of  the  syllable  at 
issue,  and  a  ludicrous  result  that  was  balm  to  the  soul 
of  the  officer-of-the-day.  Trott  bit  his  lips  to  check 
the  grin,  nodded  assent  to  the  inquiry  in  Corcoran's 
eyes,  and  the  little  Celt  sprang  forward  to  receive  the 
distinguished  and  most  unusual  visitor. 

"Advance  junior  with  the  countersign,"  and  Teth 
ers  stepped  briskly  to  the  lowering  bayonet  and  mur 
mured  "San  Mateo,"  whereat  Corcoran's  voice  was 
again  uplifted  in  the  official,  "Advance,  commending 
officer  and  adjutant."  But  no  one  snickered  now. 
Crab  had  come  in  no  "commending"  mood. 

"What's  this  I  hear,  Mr.  Officer-of-the-day?"  he 
'began,  in  quick,  querelous  tone.  "A  hospital  pris 
oner — a — a  most  abandoned  character,  allowed  to  es 
cape  through  your  guard  ?" 

"I'm  just  investigating,  sir,"  began  Trott,  when 
again  the  sentry's  challenge  broke  on  the  night,  and 


146         Lieutenant  ^anDp  Hap 


at  the  outer  edge  of  the  circle  of  light  from  the  ser 
geant's  lantern,  three  dim  forms  could  just  be  seen, 
the  one  in  the  middle  seemingly  supported  by  the  oth 
ers,  and  the  answer  was  : 

"Friends  with  a  sick  man." 

"Copple  of  the  Guard,  friends  with  a  sick  man," 
yowled  Number  One,  his  huge  voice  drowning  the 
odd,  high-pitched,  complaining  tone  in  which  Crab- 
tree  was  again  addressing  the  luckless  subaltern,  to 
the  end  that  Trott  was  enabled  —  even  compelled  —  to 
say,  "I  beg  pardon,  sir;  I  did  not  quite  understand." 

"What  I  ahsked,  sir,"  began  Crabtree,  when  Cor 
coran,  after  a  moment's  counsel  with  himself  and  a! 
whispered  hint  from  the  sergeant,  called  confidently: 

"Advance  wan  and  be  recognized,"  which  hapless 
venture  gave  Crab  another  grievance  : 

"Tut,  tut,  tut,"  he  began.  "St—  st  —  stop  that  in 
stantly.  Surely.  Mr.  Trott,  your  guard  should  know- 
better  than  to  advahnce  anybody  in  presence  of  the 
commahnding  officer  without  his  permission." 

"Halt  those  men,  corporal,"  gruffly  interjected 
Trott.  "Stay  where  you  are  !" 

But  one  of  them  was  sore  spent,  and  Crabtree  was 
,  quick  to  see  it. 

"Uh,  er  —  bring  that  man  here,"  he  said.  "Lend  a 
hand  there,  two  of  you  !"  he  quickly  added,  turning 
to  the  relief.  "What's  that  you  have  on  your  arm 
there,  sir,"  and  whatever  it  was  the  man  addressed 
wriggled  it  off  and  ran  to  the  aid  of  his  fellows.  Be- 


lieutenant  @anDg  Bap         147 

tween  them  they  lugged  the  sick  man  to  the  light,  and 
Crab  took  one  quick  look  into  the  dulled  and  lifeless 
eyes,  the  half-sodden,  livid  face.  "Why,  this  man's 
taken  morphine,"  he  cried.  "Here,  run  him  round, 
lively.  Lay  hold,  two  more  of  you.  Keep  him  on  his 
feet ;  keep  him  going !  Thump  him ;  hammer  him  if 
need  be !  Run  for  the  hospital  sergeant,  you !  What's 
lie  doing  with  belts  on  ? — A  sentry  ? — Number  Six  ? 
'An  opium  fiend  on  the  colonel's  post  ?  Why,  really, 
Mr.  Trott,  your  guard  has  been  mismanaged  in  the 
most  extraordinary  manner!  What?  Brewster? 
Then  where'd  he— how'd  he— get  it  ?" 

Who  could  answer  ?  There  was  dead  silence  a  mo 
ment,  broken  only  by  the  moan  of  the  poisoned  man, 
the  pleadings  and  exortation  of  his  comrades  as  they 
dragged  and  shoved  him  about  in  the  starlight.  Feth- 
ers  had  stooped  and  possessed  himself  of  the  flimsy 
white  scarf  that  had  dropped  from  Steinmann's  arm,, 
and  as  he  curiously  fumbled  at  its  folds,  in  manlike 
ignorance  of  either  make  or  material,  something  fell 
to  the  ground,  which  Prince  saw,  then  stooped  and 
picked  up  a  little  note  in  sealed  envelope,  bearing  only 
the  superscription  "Lieutenant  Walker,"  which,  after 
one  quick  glance,  he  thrust  within  the  breast  of  his 
khaki  blouse.  Then  Crabtree  turned  and  saw. 

"What  have  you  there  ?"  demanded  he  of  the  post 
adjutant. 

"A  shawl  or  scarf — or  something/'  said  Fethers,. 
yaguely. 


148         Lieutenant  §>anOg  Hag 

Captain  Crabtree  bent  and  felt  it  with  discriminat 
ing  fingers;  took  it  in  both  hands;  opened  it  to  the 
light  and  stared.  "Why,  this  is  jusi — almost  price 
less.  How  on  earth  came  this — here  ?"  he  cried.  Al 
ready  Prince  was  edging  away  and  busying  himself 
with  anything  else. 

"Steinmann,  sir/7  began  the  sergeant,  slowly. 

"Come  here,  Steinmann,"  demanded  Crabtree,  im 
patiently.  "How  came  you  by  this  ?" 

"Picked  it  up,  sir,  just  at  the  edge  of  the  grove, 
just  back  of  Lieutenant  Walker's." 

Prince  set  his  jaws  together  with  a  savage,  yet  un 
spoken,  curse  and  purposely  dove  into  the  guard 
house.  Fethers  turned  sharply  away.  The  sergeant 
and  his  few  men  stood  stiffly  at  attention,  facing  the 
senior  officer,  who  had  slowly  dropped  his  hands  and 
was  staring  almost  stupidly  into  the  young  soldier's 
stolid  face. 

"Just  back  of  Lieutenant  Walker's?"  The  words 
came  slowly  from  the  commander's  lips,  and  as  slowly; 
a  light  seemed  dawning  on  his  sluggish  brain.  A  mo 
ment  of  intense  silence  followed,  then  he  whirled  on 
Number  Seven,  no  longer  sullen  and  truculent,  but 
nervous  and  in  dread  of  unknown  wrath  to  come. 
Even  the  dullest  of  the  guard  could  see  there  was 
something  sorely  amiss. 

"Private  Dawson,"  demanded  Crabtree,  "was 
there  a  woman  with  that  prisoner  when  he  escaped 
across  your  poet  ?" 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  map         149 


"They  never  crossed  my  post,  sir.  I'd  a  stopped. 
them  if  they  had,  sir.  They  went  on  up  behind  and 
in  through  the  trees." 

"Then  there  was  a  woman  ?" 

"There  was  two,  sir." 


150         Lieutenant  S>anDp  Hag 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

shouted  Captain  Prince,  stalking  into 
the  open  hallway  of  that  worthy's  quarters  the  fol 
lowing  morning,  "how  soon  will  you  be  out  ?" 

There  were  sounds  of  sluicing  and  splashing  from 
.an  inner  room,  whence  presently  a  towzled,  red-faced 
head  and  a  section  of  bathrobe  appeared  at  a  door 
way  farther  back,  then  came  the  inelegant  query, 
'"What  d'y  want?" 

"I  want  a  word  with  you,  young  man,"  said 
Prince,  rather  gravely,  "and  there  are  reasons  why  I 
would  like  it  before  going  to  breakfast,  so  get  a  move 
— and  some  clothes — on  you." 

The  head  disappeared  and  the  questions  came  from 
farther  within. 

"Where  do  you  breakfast?" 

Prince  strolled  back  to  the  veranda  without  reply. 
There  were  qualities  or  characteristics  about  Lieu 
tenant  Walker  that  gave  him  occasional  annoyance 
and  that  fairly  exasperated  Captain  Crabtree,  who 
on  more  than  one  occasion  had  been  heard  to  say  he 
wished  that  Walker  were  in  Ms  company  where  he 
could  teach  him  better  manners,  for  manners  Walker 
certainly  lacked. 


Lieutenant  §>anOp  mag         151 

!Nbr  was  this  all.  Even  mannerless  men  were 
taught,  as  the  result  of  a  year  or  so  of  military  ser- 
yice,  something  of  deference  and  respect  to  seniors  in 
age  and  station,  but  Walker  apparently  had  less  of 
these  than  any  subaltern  Prince  had  ever  met.  Just 
what  were  his  antecedents  nobody  really  knew  and 
iWalker  never  told.  He  was  credited  in  the  army 
register  to  a  state  of  the  middle  west,  and  to  some  five 
months'  service  in  the  ranks  with  one  of  its  regiments 
in  '98.  He  had  later  joined  for  a  short  time  one  of 
the  regiments  of  national  volunteers,  with  the  com 
mission  of  second  lieutenant,  but  resigned  soon  after 
reaching  Manila.  When  the  regular  army  was  in 
creased,  and  a  number  of  subalterns  came  up  from 
the  ranks,  and  from  the  volunteers,  generally  with  a 
record  behind  them  for  efficient  and  valuable  ser 
vice,  this  unknown,  unheralded  Walker  was  gazetted 
a  first  lieutenant  in  the  Forty-Second,  no  one  of  its 
field  or  company  officers  having  met  him  before,  no 
one  of  their  number  being  able  to  account  for  him. 
He  was  rather  a  good-looking  chap,  with  wavy  chest 
nut  hair  and  curly  moustache.  He  had  abundance 
of  clothes  and,  at  first,  plenty  of  money,  which  he 
squandered  lavishly.  He  was  of  no  earthly  account 
as  a  company  officer  and  seemed  to  have  no  desire  to 
learn.  Books  he  had  none.  Certain  drills  and  du 
ties  he  attended  because  he  had  to.  Social  functions, 
to  which  he  was  invited  with  his  new-made  brother 
officers,  he  #ould  hardly  have  enjoyed,  for  social 


152         Lieutenant  *anDp 

graces  he  had  none,  and  it  speedily  developed  that  he 
was  only  at  home  among  the  billiard  and  pool  rooms 
of  the  eastern  city,  in  whose  suburbs  the  regiment 
was  organized  and  gradually  licked  into  shape.  The 
theatre,  especially  vaudeville  shows,  he  rejoiced  in. 
He  was  an  expert  at  base  ball  and  knew  the  batting 
and  fielding  average  of  every  prominent  player  in 
the  National  or  American  Leagues.  He  had  a  slap 
dash,  off  hand  way  about  him,  and  a  certain  jovial 
generosity  that  much  impressed  many  of  his  juniors. 
.But  with  it  all  there  was  ever  present  something  of 
the  impudent,  devil-may-care,  you-are-no-better-than- 
I-am  manner  so  noticeable  in  the  street-bred,  slum- 
haunting  youth  of  our  cities  and  that  is  not  lacking 
even  in  "young  America"  of  our  foremost  schools  and 
colleges.  Taught  no  lesson  of  deference  or  courtesy 
at  home;  turned  loose  among  a  lot  of  other  young 
cubs  before  fairly  over  their  callow,  uncouth  boy 
hood  ;  scorning  all  civilities  as  fit  only  for  girls — all 
show  of  respect  to  rank,  age  or  station  as  confession 
of  inferiority,  the  average  lad  of  our  municipalities 
is  as  lacking  in  good  manners  as  the  foreign-bred 
article  may  be  in  morals.  As  raw  material  he  can 
challenge  comparison,  but  polish  he  utterly  lacks. 

Backed  by  some  home  influence  that  the  Depart 
ment  could  not  ignore,  Walker  had  sprouted  in  the 
regular  service,  and  under  the  new  dispensation  there 
he  at  least  found  one  field  of  distinction.  He  had  ai 
certain  native  wit  and  shrewdness,  a  command  ol 


lieutenant  8>anDg  Kap         153 

the  latest  and  most  descriptive  slang  and,  above  all, 
a  degree  of  skill  with  bat,  cue  and  racket  that, 
coupled  with  intuitive  knowledge  of  almost  every  out 
door  game  except  golf  and  polo,  served  to  make  him 
immensely  popular  among  the  enlisted  men  and  not 
a  little  useful  at  regimental  headquarters.  The 
colonel  believed  in  athletics,  and  the  regiment  had  its 
base  ball,  basket  ball  and  football  teams  that,  coached 
by  Walker,  who  played  second  base  as  though  born 
to  the  diamond,  won  many  a  famous  match  during 
their  stay  in  the  States,  and  gave  the  Forty-Second 
a  brilliant  entree  to  the  Philippines — the  game  be 
tween  the  regimental  nine  and  the  aAll  Manila'' 
played  on  the  Bagumbayan  field  in  presence  of  most 
of  the  great  garrison,  resulting  in  a  victory  for  the 
regiment  to  the  tune  of  five  to  three.  The  new 
major  general  commanding  wasn't  half  as  much 
talked  about  the  rest  of  that  week  as  Mr.  "Hasty" 
Walker,  of  the  Forty-Second.  Men  who  even  slightly 
knew  him  in  his  brief  days  in  the  volunteers  hastened 
to  claim  acquaintance,  and  men  who  never  had 
known  him  at  all  sought  him  out  and  gave  him  gor 
geous  welcome.  On  all  hands  the  Forty-Second  was 
congratulated  on  having  such  a  team  and  coach,  and 
its  ten  days'  stay  in  camp  on  the  sea  front  of  the 
Paseo  de  Santa  Lucia  was  the  center  of  athletic 
events  of  the  year,  early  as  it  was  and  just  on  the  tail 
of  the  typhoon  season.  Then  they  were  ordered  off 
up  country  to  strengthen  the  stations  in  Ilocos  Sur 


154         lieutenant  San  Dp 

and  Norte.  The  team  was  scattered,  as  were  the 
companies,  and  Walker  had  speedily  to  seek  his  mili 
tary  level,  and  as  the  story  opens  was  just  about  find 
ing  it. 

"Walker  has  been  utterly  spoiled,"  said  Crabtree. 
"Now  he  should  be  made  to  understand  there's  some 
thing  to  soldiering  besides  sport."  "Walker  needs  a 
firm  hand  and  a  captain,"  said  Prince,  one  of  whose 
subs  was  detached  in  the  States  and  the  other  at  the 
station.  "Walker  needs  coaching  more  than  he 
gave,"  said  Captain  Cagger,  who  backed  him  heavily 
until  they  got  down  to  garrison  duty.  "Walker 
should  be  serving  as  subaltern  instead  of  command 
ing  a  company,"  said  everybody,  but,  just  as  luck 
would  have  it,  Walker's  own  captain,  who  had  been 
precisely  of  everybody  else's  opinion,  and  who  had 
complained  incessantly  of  Walker's  cheek  and  inde 
pendence,  found  means  to  get  a  detail  in  Manila,  and 
so,  without  any  training  whatsoever  as  subaltern,  the 
least  deserving  officer  of  their  number  found  himself 
in  command  of  his  company.  Crabtree  had  written 
twice  to  the  colonel,  begging  that  Walker  be  trans 
ferred  to  a  company  with  a  head  to  it,  and  that  a  sol 
dier  be  sent  to  the  rescue  of  Company  "L,"  which 
was  going  thither  (as  Crab  was  sometimes  betrayed 
into  saying  it)  "hands  down."  But  the  colonel  was 
counting  each  day  on  the  coming  of  his  star,  and  he 
left  that  problem  to  his  successor,  and  Walker  un 
molested. 


Lieutenant  Sanflp  Eap         155 

Nor  was  this  all.  Blake's  regimental  quartermas 
ter  had  taken  two  months7  leave  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health  and  gone  to  Japan,  Fethers  doing  double  duty 
in  his  absence.  Craven,  acting  post  commissary  and 
exchange  officer,  had  been  summoned  to  Manila  as 
witness  before  that  same  court,  some  two  weeks  be 
fore  Blake,  and  Crabtree,  being  very  short  of  experi 
enced  subalterns,  when  called  upon  to  furnish  a  sub 
stitute,  was  at  a  loss  whom  to  name  for  that  post  in 
Craven's  protracted  absence.  Originally  it  was  sup 
posed  that  that  would  hardly  exceed  ten  days.  Crab- 
tree  was  surprised  when  Walker  announced  his 
willingness  to  try  it  awhile,  and  almost  ashamed  of 
himself  when  he  sent  in  his  name  to  the  office.  Blake, 
who  had  known  Walker  but  a  short  time,  and  liked 
him  but  little,  hardly  fancied  the  choice,  but  feared 
to  do  injustice,  shrank  from  hurting  Crabtree  or 
Walker  or  both,  and,  so,  saying  to  himself,  "it's  only 
for  a  few  days  anyhow,"  told  Fethers  to  issue  the 
order,  whereupon  Craven  turned  over  his  funds  to 
Walker  and  went.  It  often  had  happened  in  the  old 
frontier  days  that  a  lieutenant  found  himself  post 
adjutant,  post  quartermaster  and  commissary,  signal 
officer  and  company  commander,  but  it  was  a  rare 
thing  in  the  Islands  to  see  the  commissary,  company 
commander  and  exchange  officer  all  in  one.  It  did  not 
please  anybody  at  Boutelle — unless  it  was  Walker. 

Nor  was  it  among  the  officers  only  that  Walker's 
lack  of  manner  had  made  him  foes.  The  ladies  of  the 


156          Lieutenant  §>anDp  Kap 

station  were  little  inclined  to  like  him.  Possibly 
that  was  the  reason  pretty  Mrs.  Shane  declared  it 
time  to  take  him  in  hand  and  try  to  smooth  away  his 
many  asperities.  Anything  Mrs.  Shane  decided 
upon  Mr.  Shane  seconded.  A  more  dutiful  officer 
and  subordinate  husband  had  rarely  been  known  in 
the  army.  He  didn't  in  the  least  approve  of  Walker 
as  a  soldier  and  he  didn't  like  him  as  a  man.  Walk 
er's  associates  in  the  States,  and  his  actions  in  San 
Sulpicio,  rumors  of  which  were  rife  in  the  garrison, 
had  done  much  to  prejudice  the  educated,  conscien 
tious  man  against  the  "hoodlum."  More  than  any 
two  officers,  even  Trott  and  Hikeman,  had  WTalker 
been  going  to  town,  sometimes  overstaying  his  leave, 
sometimes  using  up  pony  after  pony  in  the  effort  to 
save  his  distance  on  return.  Before  they  had  been  at 
Boutelle  a  fortnight  this  intimacy  with  young  Dean 
was  again  in  full  swing,  and  elders  were  much  sur 
prised  thereat,  for  the  civilian  seemed  so  much  the 
worthier  man.  Before  they  had  been  at  Boutelle  a 
month  the  chumship  suddenly  ended  in  what  was  said 
to  be  a  row,  and  nobody  at  Boutelle  was  surprised  at 
all.  The  seniors  who  had  met  Harry  Dean  were 
prompt  to  say  he  could  not  long  stomach  such  clay  as 
Walker.  It  was  rumored  that  six  days  after  the  rup 
ture  Walker  had  gone  to  town  in  hopes  of  patching 
up  a  truce,  and  that  Dean  had  damned  him  out  of 
the  office.  The  schoolmaster  heard  it  in  part  and  told 
it  in  profusion.  But  all  witnesses  and  participants 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Eap         157 

save  Walker  himself  were  buried  now,  and  so  far  as 
was  known  at  Boutelle  he  could  tell  his  own  story 
without  fear  of  contradiction. 

There  was  one  man  who  had  a  theory,  however, 
and  that  was  Captain  Prince.  He  had  striven  to  in 
duce  Ray  to  tell  him  the  cause  of  the  violent  quarrel 
he  had  so  fortunately  heard  and  so  promptly  inter 
rupted,  but  Ray  was  dumb.  He  wouldn't  ask  Walker, 
for  he  felt  sure  that  Walker  would  lie.  The  mere 
fact  that  Ray  refused  to  speak  of  it,  however,  con 
firmed  Prince  in  the  belief  that  a  woman's  name  was 
involved.  Then  came  the  incident  of  the  finding  of 
that  dainty  scarf ;  then  his  capture  of  that  sealed  and 
superscribed  letter,  and  Prince  believed  he  had  a  clue 
of  more  importance  than  the  case  of  Amos  Dean,  of 
whom  not  a  trace  had  been  found  since  the  moment 
of  his  disappearance  in  the  grove  at  the  back  of  Num 
ber  Eight,  and  to  the  north  of  the  colonel's. 

It  was  to  test  his  theory  that,  early  on  the  morning 
following  these  discoveries,  Captain  Prince,  without 
a  word  to  Ray  or  to  anybody,  marched  into  Walker's 
quarters  and  demanded  speech  with  him,  and  Walker, 
scenting  mischief,  and  conscious  that  he  had  been 
overheard  in  the  use  of  threatening  and  abusive 
language  to  an  officer  who  was  held  in  much  esteem, 
sought  to  stand  off  his  unwelcome  visitor  as  long  as 
possible  in  order  to  frame  his  plan  of  action.  What 
the  devil  did  Prince  mean  by  butting  in  where  it  was 
none  of  his  business  ? 


158         JLieutettam  SattDg  Bap 

But  if  he  thought  to  weary  his  would-be  investi 
gator,  Walker  was  in  error.  Prince,  too,  had  much 
to  think  of  and  was  making  further  discoveries. 
Pacing  the  length  of  the  veranda,  which  ran  the  en 
tire  front  and  south  side  of  Walker's  half  set,  he  was- 
taking  note  of  something  that  never  before  had 
caught  his  eye,  that  little  worn  path  leading  diagon 
ally  from  opposite  the  rear  of  Walker's  to  the  almost 
invisible  gateway  in  the  colonel's  wall.  Something 
prompted  him  to  go  down  the  steps  to  examine  the 
foot  prints  in  the  sand  soil ;  to  go  further  out,  and  fur 
ther,  until  he  came  upon  the  traces  of  army-shod 
feet — fresh  foot  prints,  six  of  them — all  heading- 
northward  across  the  open  space  toward  the  grove 
that  covered  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Boutelle  pre 
serves.  The  footprints  of  the  relief  were,  of  course, 
Corcoran's  party  after  they  had  left  the  bewildered 
Brewster  and  his  caretakers  at  the  mess.  Then  over 
there  was  where  Steinman  picked  up  the  shawl,  and 
over  there  he  followed.  Yes,  there  was  the  print  of 
Steinman's  right  foot  as  he  swerved  out  of  rank& 
and  swooped  to  pick  up  his  prize.  There  were  other 
footprints  that  had  come  through  the  grove  appar 
ently  to  the  southward  edge  and  then  scattered.  There 
were  those  of  a  man,  visible  only  in  places,  for  the 
ground  was  firmer.  There  were  the  traces  of  bare 
feet  with  spreading  toes,  several  of  these  both  of  men 
and  women,  presumably,  and  that  grove  had  been  a 
popular  rendezvous  doubtless  for  the  domestics  of  the 


lieutenant  ^anDg  JRap         159 

neighboring  quarters.  But  there  was  one  lootprint 
that,  quicker  than  the  others,  had  caught  his  eye — 
the  prints  of  slender,  delicate,  American-made  shoes, 
with  high  pointed  heels — the  prints  of  a  dainty  little 
pair  such  as  only  our  makers  build  and  only  our  girls 
can  wear,  and  when  he  saw  it  Prince's  honest  heart 
went  down  with  a  thud.  There  were  others,  just  like 
them,  leading  away  to  the  colonel's  gate.  There  were 
others,  just  like  them,  coming  away  from  the  colonel's 
gate  and  toward  Walker's  bungalow.  It  was  useless 
to  try  to  obliterate.  They  had  come  and  gone  as  many 
as  half  a  dozen  times,  so  the  old  trailer  in  him  said, 
within  the  last  forty-eight  hours.  And  then,  in  the 
soft,  moist  sand  close  to  Walker's  back  steps,  his 
searching  eyes  found  more  of  them  and  more.  There 
were  little,  semi-circular  imprints  on  the  steps  them 
selves,  with  tiny  dots  along  the  periphery  that  could 
have  been  made  by  nothing  but  tiny  pointed  heels, 
and  Prince's  service  brogans  came  down  forcefully, 
stern  foremost,  on  each  of  a  discernable  quartette  of 
these  betraying  traces  and  crushed  and  ground  them 
out  of  sight. 

"What  you  doing,  Princey  ?  Practising  that  new 
'bout  face?  Damned  if  I  can  do  it!"  came  the  sus 
piciously  cordial  hail  from  the  front,  and,  glancing 
quickly  thither,  Prince  beheld  Mr.  Walker  attired  in 
khaki  and  girt  with  saber  belt  in  readiness  for  morn 
ing  drill.  Absorbed  in  his  search  the  captain  had 
forgotten  this  possibility.  "Thought  you  wanted  to 


160         Lieutenant  ®anDp 

see  me  and  I  had  hot  coffee  for  you,  but  you  slid  for 
home,  I  s'pose.  Have  some  now  ?" 

"Thanks,  no,"  said  the  captain,  coldly.  Here  was 
the  only  lieutenant  in  all  the  Forty- Second  that  dare 
drop  the  "captain7'  in  addressing  him;  that,  worse 
still,  should  dare  such  familiarity  as  "Princey."  His 
soul  had  been  smouldering  within  him,  now  it  blazed 
with  sudden  wrath.  Between  a  splenetic  command 
ing  officer  and  this  impudent,  dissolute,  disreputable 
"sub"  his  temper  had  been  so  tried  within  the  past 
two  days  that  it  could  brook  no  more.  Shaking  his 
bamboo  stick  in  a  nervous  hand  that  longed  to  shift 
its  clutch  to  the  muscular  brown  throat  before  him, 
Prince  strode  glowering  to  the  front,  his  eyes  fixed 
furiously  on  Walker's  already  yellowing  face. 

"You  damned  young  cad!"  he  cried,  his  voice 
hoarse  with  passion.  "If  I  hadn't  found  out  that  you 
had  no  decency  I'd  give  you  the  lesson  you  need  for 
disrespect.  It  was  bad  enough  when  you  began  it  in 
town."  (Whereat  a  scared  look  shot  into  Walker's 
startled  eyes.)  "But  now,  by  God,  you  dare  keep  it 
up  in  this  garrison — when  she's  harbored  under  the 
colonel's  roof — when  she's  a  friend  and  associate  of 
the  colonel's  wife.  I've  no  words  to  waste.  You've 
got  to  write  your  resignation  and  write  at  once !" 

But  the  scared  look  had  vanished.  A  swift,  sud 
den  gleam  as  of  wondrous  surprise,  relief,  exultation 
had  followed.  The  half -hangdog  slouch  stiffened  in- 


Lieutenant  @anDp  Bap         lei 

stantly  into  a  pose  of  defiance,  righteous  wrath,  a 
fury  of  resentment  and  indignation. 

"What  the  devil  you  talking  about?  Get  off  my 
porch!  Get  out  of  my  way  or  I'll  smash  you,  cap 
tain  or  no  captain !"  And  with  bulging,  threatening 
fists  young  Walker  bore  down  on  the  slight-built, 
wiry  man,  ten  years  his  senior  in  age,  thrice  ten 
pounds  his  inferior  in  weight.  "My  God,  you  and 
that  young  squirt  over  yonder  think  to  bully  me,  do 
you  ?  You'll  threaten  me,  will  you  ?"  And  as 
Prince  could  neither  back  nor  dodge,  the  impact 
came,  the  burly  young  shoulders  that  had  butted 
their  way  through  many  a  straining  line,  without 
ever  a  hand  or  weapon  uplifted,  sent  the  lighter  an 
tagonist  staggering  from  the  low  veranda  to  the  sands 
below,  where  though  he  landed  feet  first  and  strove 
vainly  to  keep  his  balance,  his  head  struck  hard 
against  the  sharp  corner  of  a  tree  box,  and  he  lay 
stunned  and  dazed,  while  the  blood  spurted  instantly 
from  the  jagged  wound. 

Then  Walker's  wit  came  back  with  a  rush.  He 
threw  off  the  sabre  and  sprang  for  sponge  and  towels 
and  water.  Hilario  came  running  at  his  call,  and 
Hay,  appearing  on  his  side  gallery  and  forbidden  by 
his  arrest  to  leave  it,  darted  round  the  corner  and 
shouted  for  Trott,  still  on  duty  as  officer-of-the-day. 
But  before  Trott  could  reach  the  scene  Prince  was 
again  on  his  feet,  refusing  Walker's  hand  or  aid, 
•waving  him  back  with  one  hand,  while  he  strove  with 


162         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

his  other,  and  his  handkerchief,  to  stanch  the  flow. 
Trott's  face  was  well  nigh  as  white  as  the  captain's 
as  he  reached  his  side  and  threw  an  arm  about  him. 
Prince  was  glaring  now  at  Walker  and  had  begun  to 
speak,  but  broke  off  instantly  at  sight  of  the  officer- 
of-the-day.  All  that  Trott  heard  at  the  time  was, 

"You  shall  answer  for  this,  you  black '  and 

then  the  assembly  came  trilling  on  the  early  morn 
ing  air,  showing  that  drill  call  must  have  sounded 
during  the  clash  of  war  and  words.  Walker  turned 
abruptly,  picked  up  his  sabre  and  hastened  to  join 
his  company,  well  knowing  Crab  would  be  on  the 
lookout  for  all  "lates."  Trott  led  Prince  across  the 
road  to  where  Ray  stood  awaiting  them,  and  between, 
the  two  they  guided  him,  still  quivering  with  rage 
and  excitement,  to  the  inner  room,  then  sent  Hilario 
for  the  hospital  sergeant. 

Only  twelve  hours  earlier  Prince  was  ready  to  up 
braid  Lieutenant  Ray  because  that  officer  refused  to 
give  the  faintest  inkling  of  the  cause  of  his  quarrel 
with  Walker.  Now  to  the  eager  and  excited  ques 
tionings  of  both  Trott  and  Ray,  the  captain  made  this 
one  reply: 

"Don't  ask — don't  speak  of  it  to  anybody!  It's 
something  I  can't  tell  about." 

Then  Ray's  heart,  too,  turned  heavier.  That  an 
swer  could  mean  but  one  thing.  Prince,  too,  had  dis 
covered. 


Lieutenant  @anDg  Bag          163 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

EVENTS  were  moving  swiftly  at  Camp  Boutelle. 
Crabtree,  up  with  the  dawn,  had  routed  out  Trott  be 
fore  reveille  and  was  chasing  the  clue  obtained  late 
at  night.  Sentry  Xo.  5  of  the  third  relief,  posted  by 
Corcoran  soon  after  11:30,  reported  that  there  was 
some  little  movement  and  excitement,  with  mutter- 
ings  and  running  about,  and  faint,  shifting  lights 
among  the  native  huts  in  the  little  barrio  beyond  his 
post.  Then  a  boat  had  shoved  off  into  the  low,  lazy 
surf,  and  he  heard  one  voice,  at  least,  of  a  white  man. 
Crab  was  for  sending  a  sergeant  and  party  to  town, 
pony  back,  to  see  if  the  fugitives  had  gone  thither, 
and  was  brought  up  standing  by  the  young  officer's 
blunt  question.  "S'pose  he  has!  What  right  have 
we  to  hold  him  here  ?"  Then  it  began  to  dawn  upon 
Crabtree  that  Dean  was  in  no  sense  a  prisoner, 
though  he  had  so  described  and  regarded  him.  He 
was  merely  a  civilian  patient,  who  had  been  taken  to 
hospital  for  treatment,  and  then,  not  liking  the  treat 
ment,  had  suddenly  quit.  That  there  should  have 
been  mysterious  circumstances  attending  his  escape> 
that  he  should  have  obtained  whiskey  and  regained 
his  nerve,  that  he  had  received  a  message  and  pack- 


164         Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

age  as  late  as  11:15  at  night,  that  he  should  have 
been  sitting  up,  half  dressed  at  the  time,  and  should 
have  slipped  through  the  open  window  and  met  some 
female  or  females  unknown,  but  much  suspected,  up 
at  the  grove,  that  No.  6  had  been  found  in  a  stupor, 
presumably  drugged,  and  that  Dean's  devoted,  if  mis 
guided  daughter,  had  probably  planned  the  entire 
affair — all  this  and  more  were  things  that  .gave  him 
warrant  for  much  uneasiness,  but  for  no  arrest.  If 
he  could  find  who  "doped"  his  sentry  he  might  make 
it  unpleasant  for  her,  and  impossible  to  remain  longer 
under  the  colonel's  roof.  But  so  far  as  law  and  regu 
lation  were  concerned  the  only  person  to  be  legally 
punished,  as  thus  far  developed,  was  poor  Brewster, 
now  under  guard  and  only  vaguely  aware  of  the  na 
ture  of  his  plight.  Time  and  again  in  the  past  it  had 
been  Mrs.  Blake's  way  to  send  down  to  the  sentry  on 
2sTo.  6  a  comforting  cup  of  coffee.  The  cavalrymen 
always  claimed  that  post  for  their  own,  and  not  until 
they  were  gone  to  the  field  did  a  man  of  the  Forty- 
Second  enjoy  it.  Just  the  same  Mrs.  Blake  often 
sent  coffee  to  'No.  6  of  the  second  relief,  and  always 
to  I^o.  6  of  the  third,  at  reveille  when  the  colonel  had 
his.  Then,  since  her  night  vigils  on  the  Deans'  ac 
count,  she  had  twice  had  coffee  for  the  attendants  at 
midnight,  and  Xo.  6  of  the  third,  on  the  midnight 
watch,  had  duly  profited.  It  was  presumed  that 
Brewster  had  been  tendered  the  comforting  cup  at 
the  usual  time,  and  in  the  usual  way,  at  the  hands  of 


JLfeiitenant  @anDp  JRap 

one  of  the  native  servants — they  had  at  least  four — • 
and  that,  for  reasons  not  yet  fully  established,  some 
one  had  found  means  to  drug  it.  Crab  had  his  the 
ory  that  it  was  Gertrude's  doing,  to  prevent  his  sen 
try's  seeing  or  hearing  her  father's  escape  along  the 
shore  to  the  barrio  to  the  south  and  that  she  had  a 
boat  there  to  meet  him  and  bear  him  away.  Why,  he 
could  not  yet  conjecture  unless  it  were  that  they  sus 
pected  the  Manila  authorities  had  proofs  of  Dean's 
peculations  and  had  ordered  his  arrest.  If  Crab  had 
known  at  this  moment  of  the  nature  of  Hilario's  mis 
sion  to  San  Sulpicio  he  would  have  been  sure  of  it. 
Then  his  course  would  have  been  clear. 

As  matters  stood,  he  reluctantly  dismissed  the  offi- 
cer-of-the-day  toward  six  o'clock,  that  they  might 
have  bath  and  breakfast  before  resuming  the  investi 
gation.  What  worried  him  most  was  how  to  deal 
with  Gertrude  Dean,  the  guest  and  girlish  friend  of 
the  wife  of  the  real  commanding  officer. 

And  so  Trott  got  back  in  time  for  the  fray  at 
Walker's,  and  then  for  an  early  sedition  at  the  mess. 
When  Walker  and  the  others  came  in  from  drill  they 
found  Trott  just  finishing,  and  Belden  it  was  who 
spoke.  "Well,  it's  settled !  Mrs.  Cooney  says  she'll 
be  ready  to  feed  us  from  to-night  on,  so  my  resigna 
tion  goes  in,  too." 

"You!"  said  Trott,  in  amaze.  "I  thought  you 
•were  to  stick  by  Crab  to  the  end." 

"And  sit  here  all  alone  with  him  at  dinner  and 


166         Lieutenant  S>anDp 

hear  his  tenth-time-told  whoppers !  I'm  damned  if  I 
can!" 

"What  do  you  bet  he  doesn't  come  after  us  to  Mrs. 
Cooney's  ?"  demanded  Walker,  as  he  dropped  into  a 
seat. 

"If  he  comes  we've  got  to  welcome  him,  that's  all 
there  is  to  it,  only  he'll  have  to  be  told  this  is  simply 
a  boarding  house,  not  a  mess.  No  rules  'go'  except 
Mrs.  Cooney's." 

"Then  why  wait  till  luncheon?"  demanded  Trott, 
who  was  nearly  due  at  guard  mounting.  "Let's  set 
tle  with  Belden,  here  and  now,  and  have  our  resigna 
tion  in  form  of  a  Round  Robin  when  he  comes 
dawdling  in  for  breakfast,  just  to  keep  the  old  offi- 
cer-of-the-day  kicking  his  heels  about  the  office  half 
an  hour  longer.  You've  got  the  accounts  ready, 
haven't  you,  Belden  ?  What's  mine  ?" 

"Forty-eight  forty,  Mex,"  said  Belden,  consulting 
his  mess  book,  "and  I  want  no  checks.  Crab  won't 
have  'em." 

"There  goes  first  call,"  answered  Trott.  "I'll  send 
mine  over  by  Hilario.  Let's  get  the  Round  Robin 
fixed  up.  Here,  Hikey,  you  write  it  and  let  me  sign 
before  I  have  to  skip.  Here's  paper  and  everything." 
But  Hikeman  was  young  as  a  soldier — and  afeard. 
Walker  would  not  look  up  from  his  plate.  Belden 
was  busy  with  his  book.  "Damn !"  said  Trott.  "Here, 
I'll  start  it!" 


JUeutenant  ®anUp  Kap 

"Camp  Boutelle,  Nov.  — d,  1903. 
"Sir:— 

"The  undersigned  hereby  respectfully " 

"What  f"  he  queried,  bobbing  up  his  head  at  some 
unexpected  interruption. 

"You  can't  say  undersigned  'fit's  to  be  a  Round 
Robin,"  suggested  Belden. 

"Gosh !  That's  so !  What  in  blazes  do  you  say  3" 
And  the  seditious  document  went  to  fragments. 
"Here,  I  have  it!"  and  again  the  pen  flew  over  the 
paper.  "The  circumsigned  hereby  respectfully  ten 
der  their  resignations  as  members  of  the  officers7 
mess  and  give  notice  of  their  withdrawal  from  this 
date.  All  dues  paid  as  per  report  of  the  Treasurer. x> 
Then  in  bold  hand  the  signature  was  dashed  diagon 
ally  across  the  lower  left  hand  corner.  "You  take 
lower  right,  Belden,"  said  Trott.  "Your  writing 
and  mine  are  utterly  unlike.  Let  Hikeman  and — 
and  Mr.  Walker  sign  up  there,  somewhere,  or  'round 
it,  somehow.  There's  the  band ;  I  must  be  off !" 

"Mr.  Walker !"  Then  there  had  been  some  other 
breach  in  which  their  late  champion  was  involved. 
The  quarrel  with  Ray  was  already  public  property. 
Rumor  of  the  morning's  affray  was  even  now  bruited 
among  the  married  quarters,  for  servants  had  seen,, 
but  as  yet  the  mess  had  not  heard.  Belden  and  Hike 
man  signed  as  requested  and  pushed  the  paper 
silently  to  Walker,  who  sat  in  gloomy  thought  "I'll 
see  that  Blunt's  interest  is  looked  after — and 


168         lieutenant  §>anDg 

Prince's/'  said  Belden.  "It's  only  temporary,  any 
how."  He  was  counting  the  gold  and  silver  set  be- 
fore  him  by  Hikeman.  He  added  to  it  his  own  share, 
mainly  in  notes,  and  before  Walker  rose  to  leave, 
after  silently  scrawling  his  name,  Hilario  came 
shuffling  in  with  a  sealed  and  bulging  envelope  to 
settle  the  score  of  Lieutenant  Trott,  but  Walker  made 
no  sign. 

"Shall  Hilario  go  with  you  and  bring  yours  over, 
Walker?"  asked  Belden,  bluntly.  "We  can't  leave 
anything  unsettled,  you  know." 

"Oh — I  suppose  so,  if  you're  in  a  hurry,"  said 
Walker,  and  went  lunging  out  into  the  breeze  and 
sunshine,  toothpick  at  full  play.  Hilario,  brown- 
faced,  brown-footed,  white-robed,  followed  meekly. 
Hikeman  looked  nervously  out.  "If  there's  nothing 
more,  Belden,  I  think  I'll  skip,"  said  he,  and  van 
ished,  leaving  the  treasurer  at  his  accounts. 

Walker  crossed  the  roadway,  stopped,  reflected  a 
moment,  and  then  bade  Hilario  return.  "Para 
comer — almuerzo"  he  explained,  whereupon  the 
Tagalog  valet,  ever  ready  for  a  chat  with  the  mess- 
men  and  a  better  breakfast  than  his  dusky  helpmate 
could  give  him,  came  grinning  back  to  the  rear  en 
trance  and  doffing  his  broad-brimmed  straw  to  Lieu 
tenant  Hikeman,  who  hung  back  at  the  steps  to  let 
Walker  get  a  good  start.  It  was  a  way  with  Walker 
when  he  had  differed  with  any  one  of  his  comrades 
to  pester  most  of  the  others  with  his  side  of  the  story, 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Bag 

and  if  Ray  had  had  a  difference  with  Walker  Mr. 
Hikeman  had  no  desire  to  appear  as  a  Walker  sympa 
thizer.  He  tilted  his  sun  helmet  in  response  to  the 
valet's  salute,  then  scuttled  down  the  steps  and,  turn 
ing  sharp  to  his  right,  took  the  roundabout  route  to 
his  quarters.  He  did  not  wish  to  meet  Crabtree,  and 
it  was  Crabtree's  time  for  breakfast. 

There  were  still  two  covers  on  the  table  untouched, 
those  of  the  commanding  officer  and  a  junior  lieuten 
ant  who  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  escape  other 
mention  in  this  tale,  and  who  could  have  escaped  en 
tirely  but  for  events  that  followed.  He  came  at  Bel- 
den's  summons,  a  few  minutes  later ;  nervously  affixed 
his  signature;  paid  his  score,  as  prearranged,  and 
strove  to  compose  himself  to  eat.  Then  in  came 
Walker  once  again  and  laid  a  fifty  dollar  "green 
back"  upon  the  treasurer's  desk. 

"Sorry,  old  chap,  to  keep  you  waiting,"  said  he. 
"I  find  I've  only  a  little  left  in  Mex,  and  had  to  rake 
out  this."  Belden  figured  silently  a  moment  and  be 
gan  parceling  out  the  change. 

"You  know  you  ordered  quite  a  lot  of  wine, 
Walker.  It  makes  your  bill  bigger." 

"Oh,  that's  all  right.  Never  mind  any  receipt  I 
don't  keep  'em  'mong  friends." 

"Here  comes  the — the  C.  O. !"  exclaimed  the 
youngster  at  the  table.  "I— I  believe  I  don't  care 

for "  and  further  words  were  needless.  Seizino* 

his  cap  he  fled  through  the  rear  door  out  into  the  com- 


170         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

pound.  Even  Belden  felt  a  sinking  spell.  "I'm 
blessed  if  I  want  to  see  his  face  when  he  reads  that !" 
said  he,  hastily  arranging  his  books,  papers  and  cash 
upon  the  table,  Round  Robin  uppermost.  "I'll  let 
him  send  for  me."  And  he,  too,  vanished  by  way  of 
the  anteroom  and  the  next  veranda.  Walker  sprang 
to  the  window  and  took  one  quick  glance.  The  slim, 
soldierly  form  in  khaki  was  still  two  hundred  yards 
away,  sauntering,  as  was  the  captain's  custom  when 
on  the  way  to  mess.  "Agua  fria"  said  Walker  to  the 
servant,  picking  up  a  glass.  The  boy  darted  back  to 
the  cool,  shaded  nook  on  the  rear  porch  and  reap 
peared  presently  with  a  brimming  goblet.  Walker 
gulped,  turned  and,  following  Belden's  footsteps, 
shot  through  the  anteroom  and  down  the  southward 
steps  of  the  veranda  toward  the  sea. 

And  when  Crabtree  entered,  perhaps  a  minute 
later,  only  the  Filipino  steward,  his  back  at  the 
pantry  door,  stood  smiling  and  salaaming  to  greet 
.him. 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Kap         m 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MBS.  BLAKE  had  two  patients  on  her  hands  this 
morning.  The  elder  invalid,  Mrs.  Dean,  was  sleep 
ing  the  sleep  of  exhaustion  when  her  hostess  tiptoed 
in  at  six  o'clock  to  see  her,  but  Gertrude  was  kneel 
ing  by  the  foot  of  the  bed,  her  head  buried  in  hands 
that  were  cold  and  tremulous,  despite  the  contact  of 
a  face  that  glowed  like  fire. 

Wearied  after  two  long  days  of  care  and  anxiety, 
Mrs.  Blake  had  gone  early  to  bed  the  previous  night, 
awaking  soon  after  twelve  to  inquire  the  cause  of  the 
subdued  excitement  below  stairs.  Gertrude  was  the 
first  to  reach  and  reassure  her.  "They  have  come  to 
tell  us  what — I  should  have  told  you  first  thing  in  the 
morning,  dear  Mrs.  Blake.  It  is  nothing  but  that 
father  has — has  left  the  hospital.  He  couldn't  stay 
there!  He  had  business  he  must  see  to — over  in 
town — and  he  was  going  crazy  with  nervousness 
here.  He  thought — they  were  trying  to  make  a  pris 
oner  of  him,  and — so  did  I.  Oh,  forgive  me,  if  I 
have  done  wrong,  but — I  helped  him." 

The  messenger  of  the  commanding  officer  was  gone 
before  Mrs.  Blake  was  fairly  wide  awake.  He  had 
brought  the  tidings  because,  as  Captain  Crabtree 


172         Lieutenant  §>anOg  Kap 

bade  him  explain,  "it  was  thought  that  the  family 
ought  to  know."  Nothing  was  said  about  No.  6.  The 
messenger  had  told  Miss  Gertrude,  who  had  appeared, 
liight  lamp  in  hand,  on  the  stone  stairway,  even  before 
he  could  make  the  Filipino  house  servant  under 
stand — that  Captain  Crabtree  and  the  hospital  ser 
geant  thought  Mr.  Dean  had  come  here,  perhaps.  He 
did  not  tell  her  they  thought  he  might  have  made 
way  with  himself  by  a  plunge  into  the  breakers.  He 
returned  to  the  commanding  officer  to  say  that  Dean 
was  not  there.  They  did  not  know  where  he  was — • 
were,  of  course,  very  anxious  about  him  and  very 
grateful  to  Captain  Crabtree,  but  still  believed  that 
no  harm  would  befall  the  father.  Mr.  Dean  had 
many  friends  among  the  fishermen  and  natives  all 
along  the  bay  shore — which  was  strictly  true,  as  the 
customs  officials  at  Manila  had  reason  to  know.  Miss 
Dean,  said  the  messenger,  would  write  to  Captain 
Crabtree  and  explain  more  fully  in  the  morning,  and 
so  silence  once  more  settled  about  the  colonel's  quar 
ters,  though  peace  of  mind  was  denied  the  post  com 
mander.  Beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt,  he  believed, 
before  his  eyelids  closed,  that  Gertrude  Dean  had 
connived  at  if  not  compassed  the  "doping"'  of  his 
sentry,  and  though  he  held  as  sacred  everything  shel 
tered  beneath  the  roof  of  the  colonel  commanding 
when  the  colonel  was  present,  he  knew  no  higher  duty 
in  the  absence  of  that  colonel,  and  his  own  elevation 
to  the  command,  than  that  of  seeing  that  even  the 


Jlieutenant  ®an8p  Bag         ITS 


colonel's  household  contained  no  questionable  mem 
ber.  He  had  the  evidence  of  a  sentry  —  ^o.  7  —  that 
two  women  had  aided  his  "prisoner  patient"  to  es 
cape.  He  had  no  doubt  whatever  that  Gertrude  Dean 
was  one  of  them  —  the  one  in  fact,  and  though  he 
knew  he  had  no  legal  right  to  hold  or  hamper  Amos 
Dean,  he  raged  in  his  soul  at  the  thought  that  any 
one  within  his  lines  should  dare  oppose  the  act  or  will 
of  him,  the  commanding  officer.  He  had  been  bred 
to  the  creed  from  boyhood,  and  even  long  years  of 
service  under  that  more  limited  monarch  —  a  post 
commander  of  Uncle  Sam  —  had  not  served  to  banish 
it.  He  would  await  the  coming  of  Miss  Dean's 
promised  letter  in  the  morning  before  acting  on  his 
information  and  proceeding  against  this  brazen 
young  person  who  scoffed  at  his  orders  and  seduced 
his  guard.  It  might  even  serve,  too,  as  a  lesson  to 
Mrs.  Shane. 

But  that  promised  letter  was  not  on  his  desk  when, 
nearly  thirty  minutes  after  guard  mounting,  he 
hastened  in  with  a  bulky  envelope,  followed  by  a  flus 
tered  looking  orderly  burdened  with  books,  papers 
and  a  heavy  little  canvas  sack.  He  barely  noticed 
Lieutenant  Trott,  old  officer-of-the-day,  waiting,  with 
the  guard  report  book,  to  be  variously  berated  before 
being  relieved.  He  saw  a  note  addressed  in  the  well- 
known  hand  of  Mrs.  Blake,  and  under  ordinary  cir 
cumstances  would  have  opened  it  at  once.  He  was 
very  pale,  yet  beads  of  perspiration  were  starting 


lieutenant  §>anOp  Hap 


from  his  brow  and  trickling  down  his  nose  and 
cheeks.  The  new  orderly  stood  and  tapped  at  the 
door,  awaiting  the  summons  to  enter  and  report,  but 
Crabtree  neither  saw  nor  heard.  "My  compliments 
to  the  adjutant/'  he  briefly  said,  as  his  follower  care 
fully  placed  before  him  the  miscellaneous  assortment 
with  which  he  was  ladened.  The  sack  gave  a  metal 
lic  clink  as  it  was  dropped  beside  the  blotting  pad, 
and  the  bearer  vanished  in  search  of  the  needed  offi 
cer.  Presently  he  returned.  "The  adjutant's  out, 
sir,"  said  he,  standing  at  salute  just  within  the  door. 

"Out  —  out  where,  pray  ?  The  adjutant  of  all  men 
should  not  be  out  at  this  time  !"  cried  Crabtree,  pet 
tishly,  testily. 

"Beg  pardon,  captain,"  said  Trott,  stepping  for 
ward,  with  very  perfunctory  touch  of  the  hat  brim. 
"Mrs.  Blake's  mozo  came  running  over  a  few  mo 
ments  ago  with  a  note  to  Fethers  —  there's  one  for 
you,  sir,  too  —  and  Fethers  said  he'd  be  over  and  back 
in  ten  minutes  —  I  thought  you  might  have  met  him." 

"Most  extraordinary  proceeding,  this  summoning 
the  commanding  officer's  staff  to  attend  the  behests 
of  —  of  persons  not  in  the  military  service  —  at  an 
orderly  hour,  too  !  Of  what  can  Captain  Fethers  be 
thinking  ?"  And  here  Crabtree  whirled  in  his  chair 
and  glared  at  Trott  "Is  it  a  way  in  the  cavalry?" 
he  demanded. 

"Shouldn't  wonder,  sir!"  answered  Trott,  with 
aggravating  repose  of  manner,  unusual  to  him. 


Lieutenant  ®anDp  Kap         175 

"Perhaps  Mrs.  Blake's  letter  will  explain,"  he  fin 
ished  at  a  venture.  If  we  were  in  Fethers's  place  and 
question  arose  as  between  Captain  Crabtree  and  his 
colonel's  wife,  he  knew  well  which  side  he  would  pick 
to  win,  but  Crabtree  had  begun  to  read  and  was  al 
ready  starting  from  his  chair. 

"Dear  Captain  Crabtree/7  it  began.  "Miss  Dean 
is  too  ill  and  exhausted  to  write,  and  I  have  promised 
to  take  the  duty  for  her,  but  first,  seeing  you  going  to 
mess,  I  have  ventured  to  ask  Captain  Fethers  to  come 
to  me  a  moment.  The  smoke  of  a  steamer,  south 
bound,  can  just  be  made  out,  and  I  wish  his  aid  in 
some  papers  that  should  be  sent  at  once  to  Colonel 
Blake.  Praying  your  pardon,  I  remain,  very  sin 
cerely  yours,  A.  B.  Blake." 

A  steamer's  smoke  in  the  offing?  That  was  in 
deed  a  matter  of  immediate  consequence!  "Go  for 
the  signal  sergeant,"  he  called  to  the  doorway,  and 
one  of  the  two  orderlies  shot  out  of  sight.  "Er — uh 
— go  for  my  glahses,"  he  ordered  the  other.  "You'll 
— uh — have  to  wait — uh,  Mr.  Trott.  I'll  see  you 
presently,"  he  concluded,  picking  up  his  sun  helmet 
and  starting  for  the  door.  Then,  suddenly,  recollect 
ing,  stopped,  glanced  back  at  the  littered  table  and 
then  nervously,  angrily  about  the  room.  "Is  there 
no  safe  in  the  commahnding  officer's  office  ?"  he  de 
manded.  "Most  extraordinary  thing!  Where  can 

he  keep  valuable  papers — confidential  matters " 

he  broke  off  suddenly.  The  sergeant  of  the  guard 


176         JUeutenant  @>anDg 

had  sprung  into  the  hallway  and  stood,  flushed  and 
eager,  at  the  door. 

"Well,  what  is  it,  sergeant  ?"  inquired  Crabtree. 

"JSTo.  6,  sir,  reports  steamer  coming  in!" 

"And  did  he  suppose  the  commahnding  officer 
didn't  know  it?"  inquired  Crabtree,  in  his  most 
languid  manner,  as  who  should  say,  "Can  anything 
occur  within  sight  or  hearing  that  this  Omniscience 
need  be  told  of  2" 

"No,  sir,  but  them's  the  standing  orders/'  ex 
plained  the  sergeant,  reddening.  Crab  had  devel 
oped  the  faculty  of  antagonizing  everybody,  high  or 
low. 

"Very  well,  sergeant;  that  will  do.  Mr.  Trott,  I 
leave  you  in  charge  of  the  office  during  my  tempo 
rary  absence.  You  will  see  to  it,  sir,  that  nothing  on 
that  table  is  disturbed."  And  with  that  he  was  gone. 

At  the  south  end  of  the  hospital,  tallest  building 
of  Camp  Boutelle,  a  wooden  tower  had  been  built, 
and  a  lookout  was  for  quite  a  time  stationed  at  the 
top.  The  practice  had  fallen  into  disuse,  but  the 
platform  and  rail  were  still  there,  and  thither  Crab- 
.  tree  hastened  and  was  soon  peering,  unimpeded,  out 
/to  sea,  the  signal  sergeant  and  orderly  in  attendance. 
The  coming  craft  was  still  too  far  out  to  betray  her 
class  or  character,  a  dull  speck,  trailing  a  long,  far- 
spreading  cloud  of  smoke  was  all  even  the  big  binocu 
lar  could  discover.  Cruiser  or  gunboat  she  might  be. 
Coastwise  steamer,  returning  from  a  trip  with  sup- 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Kap         ITT 

plies  to  Aparri  and  Yigan  she  might  be,  but  hardly 
despatch  boat — that  should  come  from  the  south. 
.Whether  she  brought  news  or  not,  he  had  news  to 
send,  and  it  should  go  forthwith,  to  be  wired  from 
Dagupan  or  steamed  straight  into  Manila,  as  her 
skipper  deemed  wisest.  Far  to  the  north  the  low 
line  of  Point  Candon  streaked  the  dim  horizon,  and 
a  vague  film  as  of  brush  fire  smoke  hung  lifeless  over 
the  southward  bay,  but  nowhere  else  within  human 
yision  was  there  speck  of  sail,  smoke  or  steam  to  dot 
the  lonely  desert  of  the  China  Sea.  Never  before 
had  Crabtree  so  felt  the  force  of  their  isolation.  How 
fared  it  to-day  with  the  cavalry  command,  he  won 
dered,  as  he  turned  the  glasses  on  the  deep-hued,  for 
est-crowned  barrier  that  billowed  between  him  and 
the  northeast.  What  on  earth  could  Blunt  be  doing  ? 
And  with  the  thought  the  glasses  swept  the  sandy 
shore,  with  its  flashing  white  line  of  surf,  curving 
gently  away  southwestward,  with  the  brown  thatched 
native  huts  nestling  amid  the  foliage,  the  shallow 
wastes  of  the  lagoon,  the  hard  baked  ridges  of  the 
rice  fields,  the  distant  walls  and  towers  of  the  old 
church  and  convent  at  San  Sulpicio.  Why  should 
his  sub-commanders  be  silent?  Why  had  he,  Crab- 
tree  commanding,  no  stirring  tidings  of  soldier  suc 
cess  to  despatch  officially  for  the  information  of  the 
major  general  commanding  the  division  of  the  Philip 
pines  ? 

Instead  of  anything  like  that,  what  tale  of  unsol* 


178         Lieutenant  SanDp 

dierly  doing  might  not  somebody  be  sending  by  this 
very  steamer,  for  how  was  he  to  prevent  its  going  if 
some  one  chose  to  tell  ?  Not  a  word  received  from 
Blunt,  who  might  be  massacred  for  all  he  knew.  Not 
a  good  word  from  Forrest,  who  as  yet  had  naught  but 
disaster  to  report.  Not  a  word  from  C agger  and  the 
post  surgeon,  speeding  to  Forrest's  aid.  Nothing  to 
tell,  if  he  had  to  tell  it — just  to  temper  the  worse 
tales  others  would  be  sure  to  write — but  story  of  a 
discontented  garrison,  of  a  demoralized  band  and  a 
disbanded  mess.  Yes,  it  was  high  time  he  got  back 
to  earth  and  wrote  his  story  to  some  friendly  staff 
officer  in  Manila  "to  be  used  or  referred  to  only  in 
case  injurious  reports  should  be  in  circulation." 

But  meantime  Fethers  had  returned  to  the  office 
and  gone  to  the  commander's  desk.  Certain  papers 
were  there  he  needed  to  use  in  completing  a  return, 
and  as  he  would  have  sought  them,  Trott,  with  gloom 
and  mischief  mingling  in  his  face,  stretched  forth  a 
hand  and  forbade : 

"Touch  not  on  your  peril!"  melodramatically  ex 
claimed  he.  "My  orders  are  peremptory — not  a 
thing  to  be  disturbed." 

"Damn  it,  Trott !  I  don't  want  any  of  his  things. 
It's  our  regimental  matters  I  am  digging  at  now,  and 
I've  promised  Mrs.  Blake  to  hurry  back  to  her  soon 
as  it's  done." 

"Nobody  short  of  the  commahnding  officer,"  began 
Trott,  impressively,  when  in  bolted  that  eminencd 


Lieutenant  SanOg  Bap         179 

himself  and  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance.  His 
quick  and  apprehensive  ear  had  not  failed  to  catch 
•Trott's  palpable  mimicry.  For  a  moment  he  stood 
and  glared  at  the  offender,  then  with  surprising 
mildness  of  manner,  but  with  cutting  emphasis,  ad 
dressed  him: 

"It  is  to  be  regretted,  Mr.  Trott,  that  you  do  not 
seek  to  improve  your  manners  as  you  do  your  Eng 
lish.  You  are  relieved,  sir,  as  old  officer-of-the-day, 
also  from  the  custody  of  these  funds  and  papers,  and 
you  will — er — leave  the  office." 

Trott  saluted  and  stood  not  on  the  order  of  his 
going.  Once  outside  he  gave  free  rein  to  his  pent-up 
merriment,  but  not  for  long.  By  dozens  the  sol 
diery  were  streaking  across  the  parade,  bound  for  the 
west  gate  and  a  sight  of  the  coming  steamer,  still  too 
far  distant  to  be  recognized  by  "land  lubber"  eyes. 
It  was  now  nine  o'clock,  and  Fethers  longed  to  break 
away  from  the  office  and  return  to  Mrs.  Blake  and  the 
welcome  and  unaccustomed  sight  in  the  offing,  seeing 
which  Crab  saw  fit  to  be  more  than  usually  deliberate 
and  impressive. 

"It  is  of  the  first  importance,  Captain  Fethers, 
(that  your  best  clerks  should  take  my  dictation,  and 
that  you  should  be  here  to — to  supervise  their  work. 
The  first  duty  of  an  adjutant  is  to  his  commahnding 
officer,  and  I  need  your  best  support.  I  have  two 
despatches  and  two  letters  to  prepare  and  they  must 


180         Lieutenant  San  Op  Rap 

be — a — strictly  confidential.  The  clerks  may  come 
in  here — and — a — all  doors  shall  be  closed." 

"Permit  me,  then,  captain,  to  send  a  brief  note  to 
Mrs.  Blake.  She  naturally  counted  on  some  assist 
ance  from  the  adjutant  of  her  husband's  regiment," 
began  the  impolitic  Fethers,  but  Crabtree  checked 
him — magnificently. 

"Mrs.  Blake  shall  have  every  assistance  she  can 
possibly  need  by — a — ah — making  her  wishes  known 
to  the  commahnding  officer,"  and  Fethers  incorpor 
ated  the  words  in  the  note  which  the  orderly  bore, 
with  giant  strides,  that  he,  too,  might  gaze  upon  the 
coming  stranger.  That  he  took  his  time  coming  back 
was  lost  upon  the  party  at  the  office.  Doors  were 
closed  full  half  an  hour.  Then  came  a  messenger 
from  the  signal  tower.  He  was  immediately  admit 
ted  to  the  presence  and  reported: 

"It's  the  Formosa,  sir,  comin7  to  anchor  a  mile 
out  in  the  bay."  Crab  nodded.  He  was  just  in  the 
midst  of  a  second  letter.  He  hoped  it  might  be  the 
Formosa,  a  trim  coaster  and  not  a  man-of-war.  He 
knew  the  Formosa's  skipper  and  could  count,  he 
thought,  on  his  promptly  pushing  on  for  Manila.  He 
knew  it  would  not  be  long  before  her  skipper  came 
ashore  to  exchange  greetings  and  gossip  and  to  taste 
his  good  cheer.  This  time  Crab  meant  it  to  be  par 
ticularly  good,  for  he  had  a  favor  to  ask,  but  first 
there  was  a  matter  to  settle. 

"Find  Lieutenant  Belden,"  said  he,  "and  say,  witK 


lieutenant  SanDg  Kap 

my  compliments,  that  I  desire  to  see  him  here  at 
once." 

It  was  fully  ten  minutes  before  Belden  came, 
flushed  and  overheated.  He  had  been  expecting  the 
summons  over  an  hour.  He  entered  without  a  word 
and  stood  awaiting  the  pleasure  of  his  commander. 

Icily  cold  was  Crabtree's  voice  as  he  began : 

"You  were  made  custodian  of  this  precious  docu 
ment,  Mr.  Belden,"  said  he,  and  he  held  up  the 
Eound  Eobin,  "and  you  doubtless  know  its  history. 
At  the  proper  time  proper  inquiries  shall  be  made. 
At  the  moment,  however,  business  is  to  be  settled. 
According  to  your  figures  you  should  have  in  hand 
five  hundred  and  eight  dollars  and  forty  cents,  Hex, 
should  you  not  ?" 

"Those  were  the  figures,  sir.  I  gave  them  in  the 
memorandum." 

"You  gave  me  the  figures,  all  right,  but — how 
about  the  cash  ?" 

Belden  looked  up,  startled.  He  had  counted  on  a 
lashing  because  of  the  Round  Robin.  He  had 
thought  of  nothing  else. 

"It  was  all  there,  sir,  every  nickel  of  it." 

"Count  it  yourself,  sir.  Possibly  you  can  tell  what 
bills  or  bank  notes  are  missing." 

And  Belden  counted.  To  his  amaze  and  distress 
some  two  hundred  dollars  were  gone,  among  them 
[Walker's  fifty  dollar  treasury  note. 

"I  can  swear,  sir,"  began  Belden,  hotly,  "and  Mr. 


182         Lieutenant  §>anBp 

Walker  was  with  me,  and  Mr.  Meeker,  and  saw  the 


count." 


"Can't  help  that,  Mr.  Belden.  You  took  your 
chances  when  you  left  the  room  and  the  mess  money 
— unguarded " 

"Couldn't  it  have  been  lost — here,  Captain  Crab- 
tree  ?  I  can  prove  it  was  all  there  barely  a  moment 
before  your  entrance." 

"The  theory  is  untenable,  Mr.  Belden.  I  took  the 
precaution  to  have  Mr.  Meeker  come  in  and  count  it 
at  the  mess.  The  loss  is  on  your  shoulders,  sir,  and 
before  your  resignation  from  the  mess  can  be  accepted 
you  must  make  it  good." 


Lieutenant  San  D?  mag 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

IT  was  the  Formosa,  as  was  duly  reported,  and  in 
less  than  half  an  hour  her  skipper,  Cowper,  a  burly 
Briton  and  bold  mariner,  had  come  ashore,  was  re 
ceived  and  entertained  by  and  closeted  with  Captain 
Crabtree,  commanding ;  was  later,  at  the  landing,  half 
timidly  accosted  by  a  native  girl,  at  sight  of  whom  a 
sudden  light  of  recognition  shot  across  his  broad  and 
weather-beaten  face,  and  from  whose  dusky  hand  he 
received  a  letter  which  he  stowed  within  the  breast 
of  his  white  sackcoat,  and  then  in  half  an  hour  from 
his  landing,  was  on  the  way  back  to  his  ship,  Cap 
tain  Crabtree  and  orderly  with  him. 

"Just  going  out  to  lunch  and  take  a  turn  about  the 
bay,"  said  Crabtree,  most  affably,  to  the  eager  in 
quiries  of  Mrs.  Stanhope,  Mrs.  Fethers  and  others 
desirous  of  sending  letters.  "We  shan't  be  gone  any 
time  at  all — back  in  two  or  three  hours,"  but  despite 
the  airy  and  affable  manner,  most  people  noted  an 
underlay  of  nervousness,  anxiety,  worriment,  and, 
noting,  spoke  of  it  to  one  another.  The  coxswain  of 
the  captain's  gig  already  had  a  packet  of  letters,  at 
which  Crabtree  gazed  suspiciously  and  the  captain 
aggressively.  It  was  not  good  that  even  such  favored 


184:         Lieutenant  San  Dp 

persons  as  these  denizens  of  an  American  army  post 
should  presume  to  approach  an  underling  of  one  of 
His  Brittanic  Majesty's  merchant  marine  with  let 
ters  and  tips — and  without  the  knowledge  and  con 
sent  of  her  commander. 

"Fetch  those  letters  to  me,"  he  called,  as,  ponder 
ously,  he  led  the  way  over  the  side.  Then  the  For 
mosa  up  anchored,  and  envious  watchers  along  the 
shore  saw  her  go  spinning  away  toward  Sulpicio, 
where  she  lay  not  more  than  half  or  three-quarters  of 
an  hour,  then  came  steaming  back  with  a  brace  of 
black  logs  towing  in  her  wake,  and  these  proved  to  be 
bancas  that  dropped  astern  as  the  Formosa  ap 
proached  her  anchorage  of  the  morning.  By  this 
time  it  was  mid-afternoon,  and  to  the  consternation 
and  sore  disappointment  of  many  a  spectator,  while 
the  bancas  came  paddling  to  shore,  the  steamer 
swung1  her  head  to  the  sun  and  went  churning 
sturdily  southwestward  out  to  sea.  "The  thousand 
and  one  things  Camp  Boutelle  desired  of  the  craft 
and  captain  could  not  be  attended  to  this  trip,"  said 
Crabtree,  as  spray-dashed  and  dripping,  he  was 
shouldered  ashore  through  the  snowy  breakers.  "Im 
portant  discoveries  at — uh — Sulpicio  determined  the 
captain  to  put  at  once  for  Manila,  and  he's  gone.  Ah 
— orderly,  my  compliments  to  Captain  Fethers,  and 
I  desire  his  presence  at  my  quarters."  That  was  all 
the  satisfaction  Camp  Boutelle  could  get. 

But  the  orderly  was  not  so  close  mouthed.    It  pres- 


JLieutenant  ^anDp  Iftap         iss 

ently  transpired  that  the  two  captains,  army  and  mer 
chant  marine,  had  gone  ashore  at  Sulpicio,  and  Cap 
tain  Crabtree  inquired  everywhere  for  tidings  of  the 
vanished  Dean,  who  had  been,  so  they  said  in  reply, 
nosing  around  there  as  much  as  two  hours,  and  then 
on  a  borrowed  pony  had  taken  the  southward  road 
as  though  going  after  Lieutenant  Bluut's  column.  He 
had  saddle-bags  with  certain  books,  papers  and  extra 
clothing.  He  was  nighty  and  wild  like,  but  had  been 
searching  and  poking  about  the  ruins  of  his  house, 
and  questioning  certain  prominent  native  citizens 
with  whom  he  had  been  on  good  terms  during  the 
prosperous  days  of  the  agency.  He  had  found  some 
papers  he  needed,  and  certain  account  books  in  the 
safe,  also  quite  a  sum  in  cash.  All  this  the  artless 
native  had  no  scruple  in  telling,  since  many  saw  and 
everybody  knew,  just  what  Dean  had  done  during  his 
brief  and  hurried  visit. 

Once  assured  that  Dean  was  gone  for  good,  since 
the  ladrones  would  probably  get  him,  Captain  Crab- 
tree  stayed  only  long  enough  to  inquire  for  rumors 
of  Blunt,  Forrest  and  C  agger,  but  got  no  answer — 
the  only  rumors  afloat  being  that  all  three  columns 
had  been  destroyed  through  the  prowess  and  valor  of 
the  ever  faithful  soldiery  of  the  Filipino  people.  ' 
Viva  la  Republica!  Viva  Liberdad!  Muera  los 
Americanos!  He  had  a  word  or  two  with  the  lieu 
tenant  commanding  the  little  guard  whose  presence 
was  all  that  insured  his  safety  at  such  a  distance  from 


186         Lieutenant  San  Dp 

his  post,  then  back  he  went  to  his  boat  and  the  For 
mosa,  in  whose  cabin  he  wrote  two  more  missives  to 
Manila,  then  had  a  few  emphatic  verbal  exchanges 
in  guarded  tone  with  the  Formosa's  skipper,  after 
which,  as  her  engineer  slowed  down,  he  slipped  over 
the  side  to  the  crazy  native  canoe,  sending  the  orderly 
ahead  of  him,  and,  when  off  the  seaward  gate  of 
Camp  Boutelle,  was  cast  loose  and  paddled  ashore. 
That  was  all  the  orderly  knew  of  the  trip. 

But  Boutelle  was  in  a  fury  over  having  been  given 
the  slip  by  the  one  craft  likely  to  appear  for  another 
week.  Everybody  had  letters  to  send,  and  nobody 
dreamed  of  other  and  better  boats  coming.  Fethers, 
venturing  to  refer  to  this  state  of  wrath,  was  met  with 
prompt  and  cutting  response. 

"It  was  by  order  of  your  commahnding  officer," 
said  Crabtree,  with  much  dignity.  "Ko  one  of  you 
knows  the  nature  of  my  instructions — or  discoveries. 
It  must  be  sufficient  to  you  that,  in  order  to  further 
ensure  the  safety  of  the  garrison,  it  was  necessary  to 
send  appeal  to  Manila  for  troops  to  replace  those  sent 
to  the  field,  and  they  cannot  come  too  quick." 

Nor,  apparently,  could  the  Formosa  go  too  quickly. 
She  was  hull  down  to  the  southwest  long  before  the 
sun,  and  even  her  smoke  trail  had  dimmed  to  a  low- 
hanging  cloud  along  the  horizon  before  being  swept 
away  by  the  wing  of  night.  Fethers,  going  over  to 
see  Mrs.  Blake  in  course  of  the  late  afternoon,  found 
her  serene  and  undisturbed.  !Now  that  Dean  had 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  map         isr 

been  heard  from,  safe  and  doing  much  better  than 
could  have  been  expected,  both  his  wife  and  daughter 
seemed  vastly  relieved  in  mind  and  began  to  mend 
in  body.  "And  my  letters,"  said  Mrs.  Blake,  "are 
safe  aboard  the  Formosa  and  should  be  in  the 
colonel's  hands  to-morrow  night.  Now  let  us  go  and 
see  Sandy  Ray." 

They  found  him  fretful  and  nervous,  almost  be 
yond  control.  No  tidings  having  come  from  Cagger 
or  Forrest,  he  was  possessed  with  the  idea  that  there 
had  been  more  fighting;  that  the  ladrones  were  be 
tween  the  columns  and  the  post,  cutting  off  all  com 
munication;  that  Blunt  had  fallen  among  thieves 
and  was  fighting  for  life  in  the  dense  jungles  that  lay 
to  right  and  left  of  the  Dagupan  road.  All  this  oc 
curring  and  he,  the  latest  comer  to  the  command, 
cooped  up  here  in  shameful  apathy  and  arrest,  so  it 
would  surely  be  said.  Sandy  could  hardly  think  or 
speak  of  or  listen  to  anything  except  his  distressing 
plight.  He  seemed  little  interested  in  hearing  the 
details  of  Dean's  double  escape;  little  impressed  by 
the  story  of  secret  rejoicings  at  San  Sulpicio,  less  con 
cerned  about  the  condition  of  Mrs.  and  Miss  Dean, 
and  absolutely  indifferent  to  Mrs.  Blake's  eloquence 
and  enthusiastic  praise  of  Gertrude's  unselfish  devo 
tion  and  general  loveliness  of  mind  and  matter. 
"Aunt  Nan"  was  actually  piqued  at  his  unresponsive 
mood,  and  believing  it  due  to  his  general  depression 
and  nothing  else,  began  afresh  to  chat  about  her  new- 


Iss          JLieutenant  SanDg  Bap 

found  friend,  in  whose  present  condition  she  saw  so 
much  that  took  her  back  to  the  long  years  ago  when 
she,  too,  watched  and  waited  and  mourned,  when 
she,  too,  prayed  long  and  hard  and  piteously  for 
heaven's  help  and  mercy  for  a  wandering  father.  It 
was  evident  to  Fethers  and  to  Ray,  both,  that  the 
mother  heart  within  her  yearned  over  this  undeniably 
beautiful  and  really  attractive  young  girl,  and  still 
Hay  would  not  take  himself  out  of  himself  and  his 
selfish  cares  and  say  something  at  least  half  way  ap 
preciative  or  sympathetic.  Fethers  wondered  at  it — 
wondered  how  such  a  clam-like  fellow  could  be  the 
son  of  genial,  laughing,  dashing  Billy  Ray,  now 
colonel  of  the  — th  and  by  far,  apparently,  both  in 
heart  and  spirit,  the  younger  man  of  the  two. 

They  were  still  seated  there,  these  regimental  com 
rades,  Mrs.  Blake  doing  most  of  the  talking,  when  the 
orderly  of  the  commanding  officer  was  seen  coming 
along  the  row  and  the  commanding  officer  himself,  in 
dazzling  white,  appeared  solemnly  pacing  his  ver 
anda.  "It's  for  me,  I  suppose,"  said  Fethers,  wear 
ily,  as  they  watched  the  springy  step  of  the  trim 
young  soldier.  But,  instead  of  turning  in,  the  or 
derly  raised  his  gloved  left  hand  in  salute  and  bustled 
on  down  the  line,  never  stopping  until  he  had  crossed 
the  gate  road  and  reached  the  open  doorway  of  the 
mess. 

"What  has  been  the  matter  over  there  ?"  asked  Mrs. 
Blake.  "I  have  seen  more  running  to  and  fro,  more 


Lieutenant  SanDp  ma? 

excitement,  than  when  you  gave  a  navy  dinner. 
Whom  are  you,  or  they,  entertaining  now  ?" 

"Suspicions  chiefly/'  answered  Fethers,  with  a 
laugh.  "The  mess,  you  know,  has  dissolved." 

"1  didn't  know/'  said  Mrs.  Blake.  "Who  was  to 
tell  me  ?  You  are  the  only  officer  to  come  near  me  to 
day,  and  who  ever  heard  of  your  having  anything  to 
tell?" 

Fethers  bowed  his  acknowledgment  of  the  implied 
compliment.  "The  whole  garrison  knows  it,  Mrs. 
Blake.  Most  of  the  officers  sent  their  resignation,  in 
form  of  a  Round  Robin,  to  Captain  Crabtree  this 
morning,  or,  to  be  accurate,  left  them  at  his  plate, 
then  skipped.  That  was  the  unlucky  part  of  it.  The 
mess  money  and  accounts  were  placed  there  at  the 
same  time,  and  in  the  minute  or  so  they  were  out  of 
sight  before  Captain  Crabtree  came  in,  some  two  hun 
dred  dollars  disappeared." 

Mrs.  Blake  fairly  started.  "Stolen?  Outright, 
do  you  think  ?  And  do  you  know  what  servants  were 
there  ?"  She  turned  full  on  Fethers  as  she  asked,  her 
face  eager  with  new-born  interest. 

"Three  or  four,  it  seems/'  said  Fethers,  slowly, 
guardedly.  "The  steward,  two  waiters  and  one  or 
two  mozos  were  about  the  premises,  and  poor  Belden 
has  been  investigating  for  hours.  You  might  as  well 
hunt  for  truth  in — hades.  The  native  lies  from  the 
time  he  can  lisp." 

"And  no  one  else  was  about  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Blake, 


loo         Jlieutenant  §>anDp  Rap 

glancing  along  the  galleries  and  into  the  open  hall 
way  as  though  in  dread  of  eavesdroppers,  then,  at 
sight  of  Hilario,  busily  dusting  sand  from  Walker's 
steps  across  the  way,  turned  reassured  to  Fethers 
again. 

"Well,  I  wasn't  about  for  one,  and  don't  know  just 
who  were.  Did  you  hear,  Kay  ?"  he  asked,  eager  to 
lug  Sandy  in  for  his  share  of  the  conversation. 

"Haven't  heard  a  thing  'cept  what  Belden  and 
Meeker  told  me.  Luckily  I  left  the  mess  when  I  did 
or  Crab  would  be  adding  theft  to  my  other  enormi 
ties,"  and  Ray  looked  disgustedly  at  the  distant  white 
figure  promenading  the  shaded  veranda. 

For  a  moment  there  was  silence,  as  the  orderly 
came  swiftly  back,  and  then  Mr.  Belden,  fastening 
his  khaki  coat  at  the  front,  was  seen  at  the  mess  door 
way.  Presently  he,  too,  came,  somewhat  slowly  and 
reluctantly,  raised  his  cap  as  he  passed  them  by  and 
went  on  to  the  captain,  and  the  three  sat  casting  an 
occasional  glance  in  Crabtree's  direction.  How  could 
they  help  it?  Then  Mrs.  Blake  spoke.  "I'm  going 
to  tell  you  two,  and  mind  it  goes  no  further.  Some 
body  has  been  busy  about  my  quarters.  A  little  sum 
of  "rainy  day"  money  is  gone,  also  some  cheap  trink 
ets,  yet  our  native  servants  came  to  us  with  the  best 
of  recommendations,  all  of  them,  and  who  from  out 
side  would  dare  slip  into  the  house,  when  Moon  and 
his  wife,  both  of  them  Irish,  are  there  to  guard  us  ?" 

"When  did  you  miss  it  ?"  said  Sandy,  showing  at 


Lieutenant  SanDg  IRap         191 

last  some  symptom  of  interest  in  what  was  going  on 

about  him, 

"Only  yesterday,  though  it  might  have  been  taken 
,1  the  day  before,  the  money  at  least.  I  had  no  occa- 
1  sion  to  look  at  it.  It  was  kept  in  the  desk  in 


"Gold—  or  notes  ?"  asked  Sandy. 

"Both.  Something  over  fifty  dollars  in  our  money. 
Why  —  have  you  any  suspicion,  Sandy  ?" 

Ray  reddened.  "I  was  thinking  it  was  lucky: 
Hilario  was  away  all  day."  His  was  the  only  name 
mentioned. 

"Yet  your  desk,  Sandy,  and  the  steps  I  heard,  in 
there/7  suggested  Mrs.  Blake.  "Have  you  missed 
anything  more  ?" 

"I  had  hardly  anything  more  to  miss,"  said  Sandy, 
reddening  still,  "anything  light,  portable  or  salable, 
that  is." 

"You've  looked  through  the  desk  since  I  saw  you  ?" 
persisted  Aunt  Dannie,  and  Fethers,  noting  Ray's 
growing  irritation  and  uneasiness,  turned,  too,  and 
studied  him  closely,  curiously.  Had  not  the  ad 
jutant,  too,  been  hearing  tales  of  larceny  ? 

"Oh,  yes,"  was  the  impatient  answer.  "You  know 
I  have  had  little  to  do  and  a  lot  of  time.  One  has  to 
kill  it  —  somehow." 

"Something  else  has  been  taken  away,  Sandy  — 
something  that  puzzles  or  worries  you  ?  Don't  hesi- 


192         JUeittenam  San  Dp  Bag 

tate  to  tell  me  before  Captain  Fethers.  Your  colonel 
would  not." 

"Why,  it's  nothing  that  can — help  any  one,  that 
I  can  see,  only  it's  just — queer.  They've  stripped 
some  blank  cheques  from  my  book." 

"Why,  Sandy!"  cried  Mrs.  Blake. 

"Fact,"  said  Ray,  sententiously.  "Now,  what 
mozo  or  anything  Tagalog  would  want  of  blank 
cheques  ?" 

Fethers  gave  a  long  whistle,  arose  and  said,  "Let 
us  keep  this  to  ourselves  until  I  see  you  again.  This 
call's  for  me,  I  know.  Look  at  the  orderly  coming. 
Crab  must  have  thought  we  were  enjoying  ourselves." 

And  indeed  the  orderly  was  coming  on  the  run. 
Crabtree  and  Belden  both  had  disappeared.  There 
was  sound  of  suppressed  excitement  over  among  the 
barracks — the  "business  end"  of  the  post,  as  Blake  de 
clared  it.  Fethers  darted  down  the  steps,  and  with 
difficulty  restrained  his  impulse  to  run  in  chase  of 
the  commanding  officer,  now,  said  the  orderly,  on  the 
way  to  the  office.  There  was  a  messenger  in  from 
somewhere.  Dumbly  Ray  stood  and  listened,  bound 
by  his  arrest  to  take  no  step  beyond  the  limits  of  his 
quarters.  In  deep  sympathy,  mingled  with  anxiety, 
his  kind  friend  laid  a  gentle  hand  upon  his  arm.  "It 
will  all  come  right,  Sandy,"  she  murmured.  "Be 
patient  for  mother's  sake — but  I  know  how  hard  it 
is." 

Along  the  line  of  officers'  quarters  other  forms  be- 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Kag         193 

gan  to  appear  upon  the  verandas,  especially  those  few 
that  commanded  a  view  of  the  distant  office  across 
the  parade.  Every  now  and  then,  too,  an  officer 

I  would  come  forth,  take  a  look,  and  those  not  in  khaki 
dove  in  doors  again.  Crab  allowed  no  other  dress 
until  after  parade,  and  instinctively  they  felt  the 
summons  was  coming,  and  presently  it  came,  loud 
and  clear,  the  well-known  bugle  "Officers'  Call." 

"That  tells  nothing,"  called  Trott,  glancing  up  at 
Mrs.  Blake  and  doffing  his  hat  as  he  hurried  by. 
"He'd  summon  every  officer  in  garrison  if  it  was  only 
to  tell  them  there  had  been  a  scrap  in  Samar,"  and 
Ray  stood  gazing  gloomily  after  him,  and  then  sur 
veying  Walker's  bungalow,  almost  at  the  moment 
envying  his  antagonist  who,  in  spite  of  the  summons, 
had  not  yet  appeared.  Again  was  it  repeated  and 
again,  the  orderly  trumpeter  running  half  way  over 
to  the  officers'  line.  Two,  three,  five  minutes  passed. 
Even  the  chaplain  had  gone,  and  little  Meeker,  all 
blown  and  exhausted,  had  come  running  in  from 
somewhere  out  on  the  beach,  and  still  not  a  sign  of 
Lieutenant  Walker.  Yet  as  the  three  sat  there,  Mrs. 
Blake,  Eethers  and  Eay,  barely  ten  minutes  before 

I  the  call,  they  had  seen  him,  though  none  had  re 
ferred  to  it,  dismount  from  his  sturdy  pony,  send  him 
to  stables  in  charge  of  Hilario,  opportunely  waiting, 
and  enter  his  domicile.  Doors  and  windows  stood 
wide  open,  but  Walker  could  not  be  seen.  Again 
came  Crabtree's  orderly  on  the  run,  panting,  too,  and 


194         Lieutenant  8>anDg 

at  the  front  door  of  the  missing  officer's  quarters  he 
pounded  hard  and  long  until  Mrs.  Blake  stepped  for 
ward  and  called  him.  aBetter  go  in,  orderly,  Mr. 
Walker  came  home  but  a  few  moments  since." 

They  heard  him  rapping  and  hammering  about 
the  house.  They  waited,  wondering,  for  the  orderly: 
to  reappear.  "I've  looked  in  every  room,"  said  he, 
troubled  and  perplexed.  "And  the  captain  says  I'm 
not  to  come  back  till  I've  found  him." 

"Have  you  an  idea  where  he  could  have  gone, 
Sandy  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Blake,  turning  to  the  youngest 
officer,  standing  in  silence  at  her  side.  He  was  not 
reddening  now.  He  was  paling.  If  she  had  only 
worded  her  question  in  some  different  way!  If  she 
had  only  asked  him  if  he  knew !  But  the  very  words 
compelled  him,  and  he  could  not  dodge  them. 

"You  know  we  are  not  friends,"  he  lamely  began. 
"I'm  not  supposed  even  to  be  aware  of  his  existence  or 
notice  him  in  any  way."  He  tried  to  smile  whim 
sically  and  carry  it  off  in  that  way,  but  his  wits  were 
far  less  keen  than  hers.  She  faced  him  instantly. 

"Sandy,  you  do  know !  He  saw  me  here.  He  has 
gone  to  my  house,  the  back  way,  too,  and  to  see  her! 
He  shall  not  worry  that  child !  I'm  going  now."  And 
go  she  did,  and  by  the  back  way,  too,  only  to  find  the 
wall  gate  barred  within.  Sandy  stood  at  the  west 
ward  end  of  the  side  veranda  and  watched  her. 
Sandy  saw  her  beat  upon  it  with  the  little  baston  of 
wood,  kept  there  for  the  purpose,  and  all  in  vain. 


Lieutenant  @>anDp  Bap         195. 

Moon  and  his  spouse  could  surely  be  nowhere  within 
hearing.  Moon,  doubtless,  had  hurried  over  to  the 
quarters  to  hear  the  news,  and  Kathleen,  more  than 
likely,  had  followed  suit.  Sandy  saw  Mrs.  Blake  at 
last  turn  impatiently  away,  saw  her  walk  swiftly 
southward  through  the  stunted  trees,  saw  her  disap 
pear  in  the  direction  of  the  seaward  gate,  and  then, 
despite  eagerness  to  hear  the  news  from  the  office, 
stood  at  the  rear  end  of  the  veranda  awaiting — she 
knew  not  what. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait.  Presently,  from  the 
heart  of  the  grove  to  the  north  of  the  colonel's  com 
pound,  hands  in  his  pockets,  hat  on  the  back  of  his 
head  and  lips  pursed  up  in  attempt  at  a  whistle,  saun 
tering  unconcernedly  forth,  came  Lieutenant  "Hasty" 
.Walker  of  the  Forty-Second,  and  Ray's  face  went 
crimson  with  shame,  for  Walker  was  looking  straight 
at  him,  and  had  caught  him  spying. 


196         JUeutenant  San  Dp 


CHAPTEK  XVII. 

IT  was  news  from  Blunt,  at  last,  that  had  stirred 
the  garrison,  news  of  consequence  indeed.  On  much 
bespattered  pony  a  soldier  had  come  lashing  in  from 
the  San  Sulpicio  road,  bearing  a  letter  which  he  said 
had  been  delivered  to  the  little  guard  at  the  ruins  by 
a  brace  of  Macabebe  scouts — one  of  them  wounded. 
Blunt,  like  Forrest,  had  been  held  up  in  a  jungle,  had 
turned  savagely  on  his  assailants,  and  had  the  won 
drous  luck  to  catch  a  bunch  of  them  and  trounce  them 
well,  but  he  himself  was  shot  in  the  leg,  and  his  boy 
subaltern  was  ill  of  a  fever.  He  was  entrenched  and 
could  hold  out  until  relieved,  but  he  could  not  shove 
ahead  southward  as  was  desired.  He  sent  a  rude 
sketch  map  of  the  position,  which  he  estimated  to  be 
some  forty  miles  west  of  south  from  San  Sulpicio 
and  a  mile  back  from  the  beach,  and  left  everything 
to  the  discretion  of  the  commanding  officer. 

Crab  was  disgusted.  What  earthly  comfort  was 
there  in  being  commanding  officer  if  the  command 
had  to  be  reduced  to  a  company  to  supply  the  de 
mands  from  field  columns  that  could  do  nothing  but 
get  into  trouble?  It  was  high  time  he  heard  some 
thing  from  Forrest  and  the  relieving  force  under 


Lieutenant  ^anflg  map         ior 

Cagger,  but  he  had  heard  nothing,  not  even  a  word  as 
to  when  to  expect  the  coming  of  the  solemn  little 
escort  of  the  dead  and  wounded.  It  was  high  time  to 
hear  that  Blunt  had  broken  through  and  communi 
cated  with  the  scouting  parties  out  from  Camp  Mc- 
Grath,  near  Dagupan,  and  instead  came  tidings  that 
Blunt  had  broken  into  a  gang  of  insurrectos,  number 
unknown,  and  was  stranded  awaiting  relief.  Men 
were  not  needed,  nor  munitions,  only  an  able-bodied 
officer.  "Who  is  next  for  detail,  Mr.  Adjutant  ?"  he 
demanded  of  Fethers,  the  moment  he  had  read  his 
despatches,  and  when  Fethers  said  "Mr.  Belden,  sir," 
Crab  shook  his  head.  "Belden  has  mess  money  to 
make  up,"  said  he.  "Who  is  next  ?" 

"Either  Captain  Prince  or  Mr.  Ray,  or  I,  for  that 
matter,  would  be  glad  to  go,"  hazarded  Fethers,  in 
disregard  of  the  roster. 

"Captain  Fethers,"  said  Crab,  with  asperity,  "you 
know  none  of  these  can  go !  What  subaltern,  sir  ?" 

And  then  Fethers  had  named  Mr.  Walker,  despite 
his  manifold  offices,  and  the  bugle  had  brought  to  the 
spot  every  officer  not  in  close  arrest  except  Mr. 
Walker  himself,  who,  though  having  been  seen  by  a 
dozen  people  less  than  thirty  minutes  before,  could 
be  found  by  none  of  them  now.  Even  Captain 
Prince,  with  a  bandaged  Lead  at  which  Crab  stared 
fixedly  every  little  while,  was  there,  silent  and  un 
demonstrative,  until,  in  a  lull  in  the  low-toned  chat, 
the  commanding  officer  turned  suddenly. 


108         JLfeutenant  S>anDp  Hap 

" Captain  Prince,  what  do  you  know  of  Mr. 
Walker's  whereabouts  ?"  for  despite  every  precaution 
on  part  of  Prince,  Eay  and  Trott,  the  story  of  that 
human  collision  on  Walker's  gallery  had  somehow, 
through  native  channels,  possibly,  got  a  start  along 
the  line,  and  Mrs.  Shane  had  found  relief  from  her 
own  anxieties  and  woe  by  adding  to  the  perplexities 
of  the  post  commander.  Mrs.  Shane,  having  failed  in 
getting  speech  with  Mr.  Walker  on  her  own  account, 
had  seen  fit  to  believe  that  he  was  somewhere  in  hid 
ing,  awaiting  the  hostile  coming  of  Captain  Prince, 
and,  refusing  to  tell  why  she  thought  so,  had  mis 
chievously  imparted  these  her  views  to  the  wincing 
Crabtree.  Prince's  appearance,  therefore,  with  pal 
lid  features  and  a  bandaged  head,  gave  confirmation 
to  the  story.  Prince,  even  in  receiving  his  injuries, 
might  have  put  Mr.  Walker  out  of  commission  for  the 
time  being,  but  Prince's  answer  was  prompt  and  ex 
plicit. 

"I  know  nothing,  sir — and  I  care  less." 
Now,  it  had  been  on  the  tip  of  Crab's  tongue  to  de 
clare  Walker  unworthy  the  reposing  of  such  a  com 
mand  as  that  given  to  Blunt,  but  the  moment  it  trans 
pired  that  Walker  could  not  be  found,  it  was  charac 
teristic  of  his  strange  nature  that  he  became  instantly 
insistent  that  Walker  was  the  one  man  available 
whose  local  duties  should  not  stand  in  the  way  of  dis 
tinction  in  the  field,  and  that  it  was  also  Walker's 
right  to  make  the  attempt  to  "fill  the  bill"  with  credit 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  map         199 

to  himself  and  the  regiment.  Therefore,  Crabtree 
ordered  that  Walker  be  found  forthwith,  and  if  not 
found  within  ten  minutes  and  the  limits  of  the  garri 
son,  to  have  assembly  sounded  and  every  possible  shel 
ter  in  and  about  Boutelle  searched  from  top  to  bot 
tom. 

Then,  while  the  orderlies  were  bustling  there  came 
sudden  silence,  as  Lieutenant  Walker,  in  excellent 
flesh  and  spirits,  came  strolling  in  from  the  direction 
of  the  main  gate  and,  without  a  word,  saluted  the 
astonished  chief. 

"Where  on  earth  have  you  been  all  spring  and 
summer  ?"  whispered  Trott,  as  Crabtree,  without 
speaking,  busied  himself  studying  the  map  and 
affected  not  to  see  the  late  comer.  He  wished  time 
to  think  how  to  deal  with  him.  To  the  amaze  of  all 
present.  Walker  himself  opened  the  ball. 

"Want  me,  Captain  Crabtree  ?" 

"We  have  been  wanting  and  waiting  some  time, 
sir,"  said  Crabtree,  severely.  "Why  did  you  not 
obey  the  call  3" 

"Didn't  hear  it,  sir." 

"And  where  were  you,  pray,  that  you  couldn't  hear 
officers'  call?" 

"Out  on  the  beach,  sir.  Waves  were  rolling  and 
children  playing.  Couldn't  hear  a  thing." 

"Then  go  to  your  quarters,  sir,  and  make  imme 
diate  preparations  to  turn  over  your  funds  and  be 
ready  for  field  duty,  to  relieve  Lieutenant  Blunt. 


200         Lieutenant  San  Dp 

You  start  in  two  hours.  That  will  do,  gentlemen. 
Uh — ah,  Captain  Prince,  a  word  with  you,  sir." 

2sTot  until  the  little  gathering  had  broken  up,  and 
most  of  the  party  had  reached  the  open  air,  was  it 
remarked  that  Walker,  obviously  startled  and  half 
dazed  by  the  sudden  announcement,  had  remained  be 
hind.  Trott,  who  would  have  given  a  month's  mort 
gaged  pay  for  the  chance,  and  stood  enviously  by 
when  the  detail  fell  to  his  fellow  subaltern,  noted,  ana 
could  not  help  noting,  that  so  far  from  showing 
eagerness  or  exultation,  Walker  had  perceptibly 
started  on  hearing  Crab's  abrupt  words  and  as  per 
ceptibly  had  turned  a  trifle  pale.  Going  straight  to 
Kay's  quarters,  Trott  unbosomed  himself  of  this  in 
formation  on  the  spot.  He  had  lost  what  liking  he 
ever  had  for  the  man,  and  even  while  he  envied,  had 
begun  to  hate  him.  But  Ray,  only  glancing  a  mo 
ment  quickly  and  curiously  in  his  informant's  face, 
turned  away  and  said  nothing.  His  eyes  were  seek 
ing  the  distant  gallery  at  the  rear  of  his  colonel's 
house. 

It  then  lacked  but  a  few  minutes  of  sunset.  Prince 
caine  presently  to  join  them.  "It's  the  last  time  I'll 
be  dining  with  you  at  Mrs.  Blake's  expense,"  said  he, 
grimly,  to  Ray.  "I've  joined  the  Robins,  and  we 
peck  temporarily  at  Mrs.  Cooney's.  I  suppose  you 
will  continue  as  usual  2" 

"Indeed  I  shan't,"  said  Ray.  "Put  up  my  name, 
too,  at  Mrs.  Cooney's,  if  there's  room.  I'll  be  with 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Bap         201 

you  at  breakfast.  Of  course,  I  can't  be  a  burden  to 
Mrs.  Blake  any  more  than  you  can.  Trott  says  Crab 
— detained  you/7  he  continued,  tentatively. 

"He  did.  He  probably  meant  to  ask  how  my  head 

got  battered,  then  he  saw "  and  a  backward  toss 

of  the  head  toward  the  opposite  quarters  told  what 
he  meant.  When  Prince  was  at  mortal  odds  with  a 
man  he  shrank  from  mention  of  his  name,  "and,  see 
ing  a  chance  to  show  his  'commahnd'  again,  he  gave — 
him — his  ear,  and  sent  me  about  my  business  with 
the  customary  tip  that  he  would  send  for  me  later. 
Has  Belden  been  to  see  you?"  Prince  suddenly 
queried. 

"ISTo,"  said  Ray,  then  coloring.  "He  knows,  I 
think,  that  Fm  too  short  to  help  him.  I  suppose 
that's  it." 

"Yes,"  said  Prince.  "It's  a  hard  case.  We're  all 
short  in  the  Forty-Second,  except  Crab,  who  could 
lend  it  to  him  ten  times  over  and  never  feel  it, 
but " 

"And  Belden  has  no  clue — no  suspicion  ?" 

"Clues  and  suspicions  a  plenty,  but  no  proof,  no 
cash.  Crab  is  squeezing  him  and  demanding  that  he 
raise  the  money  and  pay  it  over  at  once.  Here 
come's  dinner,"  he  added,  as  Mrs.  Blake's  mozo  ap 
peared,  tray-laden,  at  the  rear  of  the  gallery,  followed 
by  a  pair  of  native  lads,  also  burdened.  They 
dragged  the  table  to  the  veranda  and  deftly,  quickly 
set  it,  and  the  two  friends  took  their  seats  as  the 


202         JLieutenant  SattDp  Eap 

bugles  began  their  sunset  call.  Crab,  for  a  wonder,  had 
dropped  parade,  and  the  flag  came  down  with  minor 
honors  only,  and  darkness  seemed  almost  to  come 
down  with  it,  so  short  was  the  tropic  twilight.  They 
had  finished  dinner,  were  sipping  their  coffee,  and  all 
the  time,  without  a  word  between  them  on  the  sub 
ject,  each  was  keeping  his  watch  on  Walker's  bun 
galow,  marveling  that  the  occupant  did  not  appear, 
nor  had  the  commanding  officer  come  home  to  dress 
for  dinner,  as  was  his  wont.  Prince  grew  nervous 
and  impatient,  and  presently  took  his  hat  and  leave. 
"Coming  over  after  a  while,"  said  he,  and  vanished. 
Mrs.  Blake's  servants,  shuffling  about  in  bare,  noise 
less  feet,  removed  the  dishes,  replaced  the  table,  and 
sped  away  through  the  gloaming.  The  commanding 
officer's  house  faded  in  the  shadows  of  the  night.  The 
lights  at  Stanhope's,  Fethers's  and  Mrs.  Shane's 
blinked  drowsily.  Ray,  moving  restless  about  the 
veranda,  eager  for  news  of  any  kind,  called  over  to 
Trott,  in  hope  of  hearing  a  friendly  hail  in  reply,  but 
the  mess  was  not  yet  back  from  its  new  refectory, 
afar  over  toward  the  barrio  gate,  nor  had  he  servant 
or  striker  to  send  a  message.  In  the  faint  glow  that 
came  from  Walker's  sitting  room,  a  form  could  be 
seen  flitting  about — Hilario,  probably,  packing  the 
lieutenant's  field  kit — but  where  on  earth  was  the 
lieutenant  ? 

At  last  a  footfall,  but  toward  the    rear,    not   the 
front,  veranda,  and  Ray,  halted  at  the  moment  almost 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Kag         203 

at  the  edge  of  the  westward  flight  of  steps,  turned 
and  gazed.  There  was  a  moment  of  silence,  of  irreso 
lution,  perhaps,  then  a  light  tapping.  Somebody  at 
Walker's  rear  doorway  was  striving  to  attract  atten 
tion  within.  Again  the  tapping,  and  still  Hilario, 
in  front,  seemed  to  hear  nothing.  At  last  the  latch 
clicked.  Somebody  had  gently  lifted  it,  the  door 
swung  slowly  on  its  hinges,  and  that  faint  glow,  issu 
ing  from  within,  fell  upon  the  timid  suppliant — a 
native  girl,  neatly  dressed,  as  they  ever  were,  shy  and 
reluctant,  hovered  there,  peering  within,  a  little 
white  paper  of  some  kind  in  her  hand.  A  moment 
she  hesitated  as  though  unwilling  and  afraid,  then 
slowly  entered,  and  was  lost  from  sight,  and  almost 
at  the  moment  Kay  heard  quick,  crunching  footsteps 
on  the  eastward  road,  heard  them  come  heavily  up  the 
front  steps,  and  saw  the  light  from  the  open  door  fall 
full  upon  the  burly  form  of  Lieutenant  Walker,  his 
hat  pulled  over  his  eyes.  Into  the  doorway  he 
plunged,  the  sun-warped  boarding  creaking  under  his 
feet  Ray  heard  a  few  gruff  words  to  the  servant  in 
the  front  room,  a  soft  patter  upon  the  kitchen  steps 
as  swiftly  the  dim,  girlish  form  reappeared,  darting 
down  and  out  into  the  starlit  opening,  where,  instead 
of  homeward,  it  vanished  almost  in  an  instant  among 
the  deep  shadows  of  that  northward  grove.  Then 
there  was  a  moment  of  bustling  to  and  fro  in  Walker's 
sitting  room,  heavy  tread  and  surly  voicing.  Then  a 
lamp  was  carried  into  the  bedroom,  and  the  booted 


204         JLieistenant  San  Dp 

feet  soon  followed.  Then  there  was  sudden,  impa 
tient,  angry  exclamation,  something  harsh  and  pro 
fane.  Then  mutterings  of  disgust  and  sounds  as  of  a 
kick  and  an  overturned  chair.  Walker  was  obviously 
in  a  pet,  and  it  did  not  seem  much  to  improve  matters 
that  just  at  the  moment  a  sergeant  should  rap  at  the 
front  door  with  the  compliments  of  the  commanding 
officer,  and  the  escort  was  ready,  and  would  the  lieu 
tenant  stop  at  the  adjutant's  office  before  mounting  ? 

"Crab's  held  up  the  whole  mess,"  said  Prince,  re 
appearing  at  the  moment.  "Got  'em  corralled  at  the 
office,  giving  'em  unmitigated  hell  in  unimpeachable 
English.  I  believe  he's  more  bent  on  suppressing 
that  insurrection  than  he  is  the  brown  insurrectos. 
I'm  worried  about  Blunt" 

"'Listen  to  that,"  said  Eay,  with  uplifted  hand,  for 
another  crash  in  Walker's  bedroom,  and  more  bad 
language,  told  of  continued  eruption. 

"I  know,"  said  Prince,  briefly.  "He  doesn't  want 
to  go,  and  Crab  has  no  business  to  send  him.  He's 
never  had  independent  command.  He's  never  been 
proved.  Por  all  you  know  or  I  know  he's  a  coward, 
with  all  his  blustering  ways.  He  told  Crab  he 
couldn't  possibly  be  ready  before  daybreak,  had  per 
sonal  affairs  to  settle,  and  Crab  gave  him  till  taps  to 
turn  over  his  funds  and  papers  and  start.  What  the 
devil's  wrong  with  him,  do  you  think" 

Kay  shook  his  head.  He  had  his  theories,  but  no 
facts.  His  thoughts  followed  that  dusky  little  hand- 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  Bag         205 

maid  to  yonder  grove.  The  searchlight  of  his  trou 
bled  brain  was  focussed  full  on  that  sylvan  rendez 
vous,  "for  whispering  lovers  made,"  and  it  revealed 
nothing.  Yet  something  told  him  Gertrude  Dean  was 
there  waiting  for  this  unsoldierly  soldier,  and  wait 
ing  in  no  happy  mood.  He  was  glad  when  Prince 
turned  away.  "Crab  seems  to  have  forgotten  our 
spat,"  said  he,  "in  his  determination  to  humble  the 
mess.  He  orders  me  to  take  charge  of  Walker's  com 
pany  and  commissary  office  in  addition  to  my  own  du 
ties,  and  to  receipt  to  Walker  for  his  funds.  I'll  have 
to  get  over  to  my  quarters,  or  like  as  not  Walker  will 
swear  he  went  there  for  the  purpose  and  I  couldn't 
be  found.  See  you  later,  Ray." 

The  captain's  footsteps  died  away.  The  still  air  of 
the  tropic  evening  brought  to  Eay's  listening  ears 
the  low  murmur  of  voices  about  the  post:  Mrs. 
Shane's  silvery  tones,  accosting  Prince  in  quest  of 
news  as  that  efficient  but  much  disgusted  officer 
passed  her  veranda ;  Mrs.  Stanhope's  gentle  voice,  as 
she  added  her  inquiry  to  those  of  her  young  and  vola 
tile  neighbor;  Mrs.  Cagger's  anxious  questioning  as 
she,  too,  came  forth,  as  she  did  with  each  new  comer, 
seeking  tidings  from  the  columns  afield ;  Mrs.  Feth- 
ers's  aggrieved  and  petulant  "Is  Captain  Fethers 
never  coming  home  for  dinner  ?  Here  it  is  long  after 
eight"  (it  was  by  three  minutes)  "and  everything  is 
done  to  a  cinder ;"  Prince's  deep  barytone  and  cheery 
laugh  as  he  responded.  It  was  one  of  Prince's  the- 


206         Lieutenant  San&g  Bap 

cries  that  one  should  always  wear  a  smile  in  the  pres 
ence  of  the  sex,  he  being  still  unmarried.  Beyond  all 
these  and  over  in  the  garrison  there  was  a  subdued 
hum  of  voices,  the  tinkle  of  mandolin  and  guitar,  the 
shrill  snappish  neigh  and  stamping  hoof  of  tethered, 
pugnacious  ponies;  beyond  these  and  out  in  the 
barrio  the  persistent  and  querulous  yelp  and  chal 
lenge  of  the  village  dogs.  Ray  turned  from  them, 
impatient,  irascible,  his  eyes  and  thoughts  still  on 
those  adjacent  quarters  and  the  more  distant  grove. 
He  put  the  bulk  of  his  house  between  him  and  the 
eastward  sounds  by  again  moving  to  the  rear  end  of 
that  side  gallery,  tiptoeing,  he  could  not  say  why,  the 
first  few  steps;  then,  stricken  with  sudden  shame, 
almost  stamping  the  rest  of  them.  Here  he  could 
hear  the  low  plashing,  the  murmurous  melody  of  the 
sea,  and  here  presently  he  saw  and  heard  the  quick 
and  sudden  exit  of  a  dimly  defined  figure  from 
.Walker's  rear  doorway,  heard  the  quick,  impatient 
footfalls  dying  away  across  the  sandy  waste,  saw  the 
faintly  outlined  form  go  dancing  away  toward  the 
dark  recesses  of  the  grove,  and  leaning  against  the 
wooden  pillar  at  the  end  of  the  gallery,  he  stood  wait 
ing  for,  he  knew  not  what ;  he  only  knew  there  would 
be  something. 

And  presently  it  came. 

'Afar  out  over  the  westward  wave,  sparkling  and 
billowing  under  the  spangled  vault  of  heaven,  there 
rose,  soft  and  mellow  in  the  distance,  then  gradually 


jUeutenant  ^anDp  Kap         207 


swelling  in  volume  and  resonance,  the  deep-toned 
basso  profundo  of  a  steamer's  whistle,  one  that  Ray; 
had  heard  many  a  time  before  and  recognized  at 
once,  the  deep,  vibrant  roar  of  the  big  belled  signal 
of  the  Maumee.  It  meant  beyond  question  news  from, 
friends,  relief  from  Manila.  It  meant  possibly  even. 
the  return  of  Blake,  the  colonel,  to  his  own.  It 
meant,  how  could  he  help  but  hope  it,  a  prompt  hear 
ing  of  his  grievance,  immediate  release  from  durance, 
and  the  longed  for  orders  to  join  his  comrades  in  the 
field.  It  meant  the  downfall  of  Crab  and  his  absurdi 
ties,  the  restoration  of  sanity  and  soldiership,  and 
Ray's  heart  bounded  within  him,  as  the  cry  of  the 
sentry  rang  shrill  on  the  air.  For  the  life  of  him  he 
could  not  repress  the  exultant  hurrah  that  burst  from 
his  lips  and  brought  half  a  dozen  households  to  their 
feet,  but  that  hushed  almost  as  suddenly  as  it  began. 
Someone  else  had  heard,  someone  to  whom  the 
sound  brought  dismay,  not  rejoicing,  someone  to 
whom  it  spoke  of  menace,  retribution,  even  ven 
geance.  There  came  a  sudden  sound  of  pleading,  of 
struggle,  of  fierce  threatening  and  abuse,  then  a  rush 
of  bounding  footsteps,  a  low,  despairing,  sobbing  cry, 
and  Sandy  Ray,  forgetful  of  his  arrest,  forgetful  of 
his  aversion,  suspicion  and  shrinking,  forgetful  of 
everything  but  that  a  woman  was  in  peril  or  distress 
and  that  woman  a  fragile,  delicate  and  gentle  girl  — 
sprang  from  the  veranda,  ran  swiftly  across  the  inter 
vening  glade,  and  found  himself  an  instant  later 


208         Lieutenant  SanBg  Hag 

bending  over  a  white  and  senseless  heap,  then  lifting 
in  his  strong  young  arms  and  bearing  to  the  edge  of 
the  timber  the  fairest  burden  they  had  clasped  in 
many  a  day.  Then,  as  the  pallid  starlight  fell  upon 
that  equally  pallid,  upturned  face,  he  gazed  as  rea 
son  and  reluctant  brain  had  warned  him,  into  the  re 
opening,  questioning,  imploring — then  startled  and 
repelling  eyes  of  Gertrude  Dean. 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  IRap         209 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THERE  was  an  awakening  that  night  not  soon  for 
gotten  at  Camp  Boutelle.  The  garrison,  all  but  the 
guard,  swarmed  out  to  the  beach  and  stayed  there, 
most  of  it,  until  long  after  midnight,  when  the  last 
boatload  came  ashore,  and  the  Maumee,  having 
landed  some  six  score  and  ten  of  its  martial  passen 
ger  list,  weighed  anchor  and  dropped  coastwise  down 
to  waiting  San  Sulpicio,  where  others  of  her  list,  it 
seems,  had  business  of  importance.  Just  as  was  to 
be  expected,  Colonel  Blake  was  the  first  to  land  and 
to  be  received  with  every  manifestation  of  rejoicing 
and  respect  by  the  commanding  officer  ad  interim. 
The  two  went,  together  and  at  once,  accompanied  by 
that  model  staff  officer,  Captain  Fethers,  to  the 
colonel's  quarters,  where,  in  spite  of  new  anxieties  as 
to  her  wards  and  patients,  Mrs.  Blake  had  warm  wel 
come  and  hot  supper  awaiting  them.  There  was 
time  for  no  domestic  details  at  the  moment.  Blake 
came  charged  with  important  duties  and  instructions, 
and  Crab  had  a  rueful  tale  in  many  a  painful  chapter 
to  unfold.  Over  these  chapters  we  who  may  know 
their  contents  and  can  fancy  Crab's  embarrassment. 


210         JLieutenant 

may  well  draw  the  curtain.  Blake  had  frankly  liked 
Crabtree — had  laughed  at  his  little  mannerisms,  had 
delighted  in  his  Brittanic  mode  of  speech,  but  had 
sturdily  insisted  that  Crab  was  a  tiptop  soldier,  one 
who,  if  ever  he  had  a  chance,  would  prove  "a  first- 
class  fighting  man."  But  before  hearing  Crab's  de 
tailed  account  of  the  situation  at  the  post,  Blake 
launched  at  once  into  the  projects  for  the  field. 

It  seems  that  the  isolation  of  the  command  at  Bou- 
telle  had  been  fully  appreciated  and  understood  at 
Manila,  but  caused  little  uneasiness.  Blunt,  how 
ever,  even  before  he  was  fianlly  blocked,  had  found 
means  to  send  a  messenger  by  native  sail  boat  to 
Dagupan,  whence  the  news  would  be  instantly  flashed 
in  to  the  general  commanding.  Blake,  who  had  been 
summoned  and  informed  of  the  raid  on  San  Sulpicio 
the  very  hour  of  the  coming  of  the  Pittsburg,  was 
already  seeking  opportunity  to  return,  when  again  he 
was  called,  this  time  to  hear  that  Forrest  had  been, 
attacked  and  his  field  hospital  crippled,  that  Crab- 
tree  had  split  up  his  command,  despatching  Blunt  one 
way  and  Cagger  another,  that  it  was  useless  for  For 
rest  to  attempt  pursuit  in  the  narrow  and  tortuous 
mountain  trails  northward.  He  should  be  recalled 
at  once  to  refit  at  Boutelle,  and  then  a  new  expedition 
would  be  sent  forth,  concentrating  columns  from 
three  or  four  posts,  Blake  himself  to  take  the  field, 
meantime  supporting  Blunt,  reopening  the  road  and 
repairing  the  line.  Before  midnight  Fethers  had 


Lieutenant  @>anOp  Kag         211 

written  out  the  orders,  while  Blake  was  listening  to- 
Crabtree's  halting  and  embarrassed  recital. 

"Has  Walker  gone  ?"  he  presently  interrupted. 

"Left  at  9  :80,  sir,  with  Sergeant  Butts  and  six 
men,  all  we  could  spare." 

Blake  stepped  to  the  balcony  and  gazed  out  over 
the  starlit  bay.  A  mile  from  shore  lay  the  Maumee, 
her  riding  lights  sending  long  pencils  of  dancing  fire 
landward  across  the  deep.  The  colonel  seemed 
plunged  in  thought  a  moment.  "We  met  the  For 
mosa/'  said  he,  "and  heard  something  of  what  had 
been  happening.  We  brought  customs  officers  to  in 
vestigate  Dean's  affairs.  I  fancied,  somehow,  that 
.Walker  would  be  needed  as  a  witness." 

"We  can  reach  him  at  town,  sir,"  was  the  prompt 
answer.  "That  is,  if  the  Maumee  goes  over  to-night. 
He  is  not  to  leave  there  until  dawn."  And  as  be 
spoke  Crabtree  was  ruefully  wondering  how  much  the 
[Formosa  had  told  the  returning  commander.  Then 
he  bethought  him  of  Mrs.  Blake's  letters  that  Cowper 
had  ordered  "fetched  aft,"  and  that  he  would  have 
been  glad  indeed  to  intercept  and  hold ;  but  while  as 
commanding  officer,  in  the  interests  of  good  order  and 
discipline,  Crab  might  to  himself  have  justified  the 
act,  he  could  not  as  a  gentleman,  once  of  Her  Majes 
ty's  service,  so  act  except  upon  that  plea.  Thinking 
now  of  that  letter,  his  heart  sank.  Blake,  of  course, 
must  know  all  about  Ray  and  the  mess  and  every 
thing,  Blake  must  have  heard  a  woman's  prejudiced 


212         lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

and  biased  report,  and  Crab  had  so  hoped  to  keep  ever 
in  the  good  graces  of  that  most  popular  colonel.  It 
was  impossible,  however,  from  Blake's  manner,  to  as 
certain  whether  or  not  he  had  been  informed.  He 
was  precisely  as  courteous  as  ever  before,  and  just 
now  seemed  thinking  only  what  to  do  in  Walker's 
case.  "Let  him  go,"  he  presently  said.  "If  needed 
he  can  be  recalled.  They  won't  finish  this  investiga 
tion  in  a  hurry."  Then,  turning  quickly :  "And  now, 
Crabtree,  what  mounts  have  you  left  ?  We  must  send 
couriers  after  Forrest  and  we  should  send  an  officer 
with  a  few  men." 

"Mr. — Eay  is  here,"  ventured  Crab,  "but  I  regret 
to  say  I  found  it  necessary  to  place  him  in  arrest." 

"Tell  me  about  it,"  said  Blake,  briefly,  and  Crab- 
tree  told,  and  told  it  fairly.  Fethers,  sitting  silently 
by,  nervously  tapping  his  teeth  with  his  pencil,  could 
not  but  declare  later  that  Crab  set  nothing  down  in 
malice,  even  though  he  naught  extenuated.  Blake 
listened  without  a  word  until  Crabtree  had  finished. 

"Ray  cannot  go,"  said  he  briefly,  though,  as  he  told 
himself,  "it's  only  to  order  them  back."  "Who  else 
have  you  ?" 

"Mr.  Trott,  Mr.  Beld- 

"JSTotify  Trott  to  get  ready,"  said  Blake,  briefly,  to 
Fethers,  and  the  adjutant  left. 

"We'll  talk  of  Kay's  case,  and  other  matters,  in  the 
morning,"  continued  the  colonel,  in  quiet  tone.  "First 
let's  settle  the  field  business.  I  fear  these  young  fel- 


JUeutenant  ^atttip  map         213 

lows  have  been  playing  because  their  old  cat  was 
away." 

"That  is  just  the  way  I  should  put  it,  colonel,"  in 
his  relief  and  joy  and  to  Blake's  infinite  delight  and 
subsequent  merriment,  cried  Crabtree,  almost  ven 
turing  to  seize  his  commander's  hand.  "I — I  have 
positively  no  feeling  in  the  matter,  colonel.  We 
simply  disagreed  and — he  forgot  himself.  I — er — 
expected  him  to  come  down  and  to  his  senses  by  this 
time,  but  I  haven't  seen — he  hasn't  asked  permission 
to  see  me." 

"He  will  very  shortly,"  said  Blake.  "Let  us  get 
back  to  business.' 

And  all  this  time  Sandy  Kay,  an  anxious  and  trou 
bled  man,  was  pacing  his  veranda  and  wondering 
what  the  upshot  would  be.  He  had  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  a  maiden  in  distress,  and  she  had  practically  re 
buked  and  disowned  him.  He  had  resigned  her, 
angering  and  even  insolent  in  manner,  to  the  native 
damsel  so  attached  to  her,  and  the  two,  the  lily  white 
maiden  and  the  native  girl,  had  gone  wearily  away 
homeward,  leaving  Ray  to  return  to  his  quarters  and 
senses. 

Prince  the  third  time  came  over  to  cheer  and  bear 
him  company.  "I  don't  envy  poor  Crab  his  task  to 
night,"  said  he.  "Yet  you  ought  to  have  seen  him 
greet  the  colonel.  You  would  have  thought  he'd  been 
praying  for  his  return  for  weeks.  Anything  new, 
Kay  ?"  he  questioned,  suddenly,  for  Ray  looked  older 


Lieutenant  S>anDp 

and  graver  and  even  more  troubled  than  when  he  left 
him  two  hours  before. 

"^Tothing — new,  I  suppose,"  was  the  weary  an 
swer.  "Only  I  hadn't — fully  grasped  the  situation, 
perhaps." 

Prince  eyed  him,  sharply. 

aSee — Walker — again  before  he  left?" 

"Only — over  yahnduh,"  and  a  nod  over  his  shoul 
der  as  Ray  drew  his  pipestem  from  his  lips,  conveyed 
all  he  desired  to  tell  on  that  subject.  Prince  lowered 
himself  into  the  biggest  of  the  wicker  chairs.  Ray 
was  something  of  a  puzzle  to  him.  Obviously  more 
of  a  gentleman  than  most  of  the  mess,  he  had  early 
attracted  the  captain's  attention.  Prince  cared  little 
for  garrison  society  and  it  cared  little  more  for  him. 
He  looked  upon  the  sex  as  a  disturbing  element  in  the 
army,  lovely  and  alluring,  perhaps,  like  the  Rhine 
maidens  of  the  Lorelei,  but  equally  to  be  avoided. 
He  had  deep  respect  for  such  women  as  Mrs.  Blake 
and  Mrs.  Stanhope.  He  had  less  for  such  as  Mrs. 
Fethers,  who  had  money  of  her  own,  and  gowns  and 
things,  that  promoted  envy  and  emulation  among 
other  women  and  expense  and  worry  for  their  hus 
bands.  He  had  no  respect  at  all,  and  stood  utterly  at 
odds  with  the  pretty,  laughing,  teasing  little  women 
of  the  Mrs.  Shane  type.  They  were  at  the  bottom, 
said  Prince,  of  most  of  the  bits  of  devilment  that 
came  to  his  notice.  Prince  was  yet  to  be  recon 
structed,  for  bachelorhood  with  him  was  not  really  a 


ILieutenant  San  Dp  Bap         215 

matter  of  choice.  His  sister,  who  was  a  widow,  and 
that  sister's  children,  needed  most  of  his  means  and 
kept  him  poor.  But  Prince  had  taken  a  fancy  to  Ray, 
and  Ray  piqued  both  his  curiosity  and  interest.  Lit 
tle  as  Prince  liked  Walker,  personally,  before  being 
hurled  off  Walker's  veranda,  and  much  as  he  hated 
him  now,  he  meant  to  hold  him  to  strict  accounta 
bility.  Prince  at  the  moment  was  powerless  to  act 
as  he  desired.  Crab  had  his  suspicions,  Crab  was 
watching.  Crab  possibly  had  picked  Walker  to  go 
in  order  to  prevent  further  collision  at  the  post.  Crab 
had  even  sent  for  and  informed  the  captain  that  it 
was  his,  the  commanding  officer's,  wish,  that  he, 
Prince,  be  present  at  the  office  when  Walker  turned 
over  his  funds.  Crabtree  had  designated  Fethers  to 
receive  and  receipt  for  them  finally,  and  for  the  life 
of  him  Prince  could  not  imagine  why  Crabtree  in 
sisted  on  his  presence,  unless  it  be  that  he  suspected 
that  Walker  would  be  found  short. 

But  at  the  appointed  hour,  when  Eethers  and 
Prince  together  reluctantly  left  the  beach  and  the  con 
templation  of  the  still  far  distant  lights  of  the  Mau- 
mee,  they  found  WTalker  in  readiness  at  the  commis 
sary  office.  The  sergeant  set  before  them  the  papers 
and  Walker  the  money.  At  the  exchange  office  a  sim 
ilar  ceremony  was  gone  through,  Fethers  silently 
counting  and  signing,  Prince  silently  looking  on. 
Then  Walker  turned  and,  for  the  first  time,  his  eyes 
met  those  of  the  victim  in  the  morning's  clash,  and 


216         Lieutenant 

they  met  squarely  with  unmitigated  enmity,  if  not 
hate,  in  both. 

"And  now,  cap,"  said  Walker,  "I'm  ordered  to 
turn  the  company  fund  over  to  you/'  at  which  piece  of 
Bowery  boy  insolence  Prince's  cheeks  burned  to  the 
temples,  "and  I  do  it  here  because  neither  to-night 
nor  any  time  do  I  want  you  in  my  quarters.  You 
butted  in  there  this  morning." 

"Not  a  word  of  that,  Mr.  Walker !"  cried  Fethers, 
springing  instantly  between  them.  "My  orders  are 

to  arrest  you  if  you JSTo,  captain,  I  beg  of  you," 

he  continued,  warning  the  senior  back  with  his  hand. 
"Here,  Walker,  sit  there  and  count  out  your  cash. 
Prince,  just  step  outside  one  moment.  I'll  count  and 
verify,  you  can  sign,"  and  so,  half  persuading,  half 
pushing,  the  adjutant  parted  the  would-be  combat 
ants.  Prince,  fuming,  strode  the  piazza  a  moment 
or  two.  Walker  presently  came  plunging  forth  and 
went  straightway  to  his  detachment.  Ten  minutes 
later  Fethers  had  sent  him  all  his  receipts  and,  much 
to  the  unspoken  surprise  of  at  least  three  men  in  gar 
rison,  Walker's  accounts  were  cleared  ere  he  left  the 
limits  of  Camp  Boutelle. 

But  Prince  was  still  hot  when,  after  another  half 
hour  at  the  beach,  trying  to  cool  off,  he  returned  to 
Ray,  alone  and  anxious.  The  sound  of  little  parties 
marching  in  and  being  distributed  about  the  barracks 
had  roused  his  curiosity  for  the  moment,  but  Trott, 
hurrying  by,  had  explained  that  these  were  merely 


JUeutettant  SattDp  Kap         217 

the  convalescents  and  other  men  left  back  at  Manila, 
every  available  soldier  being  now  sent  to  his  station. 
Something  was  surely  afoot,  though  Trott  knew 
nothing  more  than  that  he  was  to  go  at  dawn  with 
orders  recalling  Forrest  and  C agger  from  the  moun 
tains,  and  that  the  colonel  "had  business."  Business 
for  all  hands,  thought  Sandy,  and  I  still  in  arrest! 
Smoking  was  another  thing  he  had  almost  abandoned, 
yet  in  his  nervousness  to-night  the  old  pipe  was  a 
solace,  and  he  was  puffing  away  when  Prince  found 
him.  Each  had  something  uppermost  in  his  mind 
and  each  longed  to  broach  it,  yet  shrank.  Each  had 
reason  to  think  ill  of  Walker,  and  so  thinking  had 
until  lately  spoken  freely,  but  now,  with  additional 
and  damning  reason,  each  was  silent. 

It  was  Ray  who  questioned  at  last. 

"Did  you  see  the  colonel — did  you  go  to  his  quar 
ters?" 

"I  did,  indeed!  He  made  me,  in  fact.  He  told 
Fathers  to  tell  me  to  come  up,  and  I  stayed  as  much 
as  ten  minutes,  too,  more  to  bother  Crab  than  any 
thing  else,  for  I  know  they  had  business." 

"See— Mrs.  Blake?" 

"ISTo,  she  was  very  busy  with  Mrs.  Dean  and — and 
the  daughter.  Sick  again,  possibly.  That  Filipino 
girl  was  doing  a  good  deal  of  bustling  about  from 
room  to  room.  The  new  doctor  is  with  them.  He 
was  hardly  off  the  ship  when  he  was  called  to  the 


218         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Ha? 

colonel's.  They  sent  him  and  six  hospital  corps  men 
on  the  Maumee.  Looks  like  field  work,  doesn't  it  3" 

"Of  course,"  said  Sandy,  disgustedly,  "now  that 
I'm  in  limbo." 

"Bosh,  man,  don't  bother  about  that,  now  that 
Blake  is  here  he'll  bring  Crab  to  his  senses,  and  you'll 
be  out  in  plenty  of  time.  Only — I  wish  you  might 
have  had  the  chance  of  that — that — cad  yonder." 

Ray  heaved  himself  out  of  his  chair,  puffing  ner 
vously  at  his  briar,  and  again  began  pacing  the  floor. 
Eor  a  man  who  had  been  at  Boutelle  little  over  a 
week,  it  seemed  to  him  he  had  never  known  a  post 
with  so  many  possibilities  for  sensation,  he  hated  to 
say  scandal,  all  centering  in  one  soldier  and  that  sol 
dier's  dupes  and  victims.  But  such  proofs  as  Ray 
had  of  that  soldier's  wrongdoing,  or  inexplicable 
doings,  were  not  such  proofs  as  he  felt  it  possible  to 
use.  He  could  not  understand  how  a  girl  for  whom 
Mrs.  Blake  felt  such  affection  and  regard — in  whom 
ne,  in  spite  of  all  he  had  seen  and  heard  and  sus 
pected,  felt  such  indefinable  interest,  and  for  whom, 
in  spite  of  himself,  he  felt  such  strange,  unwelcome 
attraction — could  be  influenced  by  and  drawn  to  that 
ill-bred,  coarse-fibred  fellow  whose  very  look  at  a 
woman  was  insult.  He  knew  that  Prince  must  be 
thinking  of  Walker  just  as  he  thought  He  knew  that 
Prince  had  seen  and  heard  things  that  made  him 
think  ill  of  the  girl,  think  worse  of  her  perhaps  than 
Hay  himself,  who  knew  or  thought  he  knew  so  much 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag         219 

more.  He  could  not  bring  himself  to  talk  with  a  man 
he  had  known  so  short  a  time,  much  as  he  liked  him, 
of  a  girl  he  had  known  even  less  a  time,  and  of  whom 
he  thought  he  had  learned  so  many  things,  little,  as 
he  persuaded  himself,  he  liked  or  respected  her.  Yet 
he  was  eager  to  talk,  eager  to  explain,  eager  even  to 
extenuate.  He  longed  to  hear  from  Prince's  lips  that 
Prince  disbelieved  the  evidence  of  his  own  senses,  for 
what  Sandy  Ray  practically  longed  to  believe  was 
that  his  own  senses  had  maligned  her. 

And  while  he  was  pacing  the  floor,  glancing  fitfully 
at  his  companion  the  while,  the  latter  suddenly  put  up 
a  hand  and  slowly  worked  himself  out  of  the  depths 
of  that  easy  chair  and  thence  to  the  open  door.  It 
was  then  a  little  after  midnight  and  even  the  snarling 
and  yelping  of  the  village  dogs  had  ceased.  A  pro 
found  silence  had  fallen  on  the  garrison,  though  once 
in  a  while  a  low  murmur  of  voices  rose  above  the  soft 
monotone  of  the  surf  along  the  sandy  concave  of  the 
shore.  Certain  stores,  it  seems,  were  still  being 
rafted  through  the  little  breakers.  Certain  detach 
ments  were  still  at  work;  but  even  these  voices  had 
ceased  as  though  every  one  had  suddenly  struck  work 
and  stopped  to  listen  to  some  other  sound,  strange  and 
dominant,  that  compelled  their  attention.  Prince  had 
tiptoed  to  the  gallery  without  and  Sandy  followed. 
And  then  it  came  again,  and  from  the  direction  of 
the  colonel's  quarters — a  scream,  at  sound  of  which 
both  men  sprang  from  the  rear  steps  and  then,  in 


220         JUeutenam  San  Dp  Bap 

amazement,  halted  short,  confounded.  The  scream 
suddenly  changed  to  a  peal  of  weird,  shrill,  unearthly 
laughter,  that  rang  out  on  the  night  and  roused  the 
barrio  dogs  to  instant  and  responsive  yelps  and  chal 
lenge — a  laugh  that  in  spite  of  tragic  import  re 
minded  Ray  of  nothing  on  earth  so  much  as  the  wild 
chorus  of  the  prairie  wolves  in  the  old  days  of  his 
army  boyhood.  The  two  men  stood  gazing  at  each 
other  in  bewilderment  a  moment,  then  the  captain 
spoke : 

aMy  God,  man ;  don't  you  know  what  that  is  ?    It's 
a  woman  in  hysterics !" 


Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bag         221 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANOTHER  day  had  come.  Blake  had  resumed  com 
mand.  Trott  had  cantered  away  to  the  recall  of  For 
rest,  a  little  squad  of  the  Forty-Second  in  his  wake. 
Prince  had  been  sent  for  and  notified  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  march  his  company  to  reinforce  Blunt's  de 
tachment,  and  to  take  over  the  command.  There  was 
significance  in  this.  It  meant  that  the  veteran  colonel 
of  cavalry,  who  had  spent  long  years  in  conflict  with 
savage  tribesmen,  considered  Lieutenant  Walker  too 
little  experienced  for  so  responsible  a  duty.  It 
might  mean  even  more,  but  if  so  no  hint  escaped  the 
colonel's  lips.  Prince  had  come  straight  to  Sandy  to 
tell  him  the  news  and  to  say  that  he  had  gone  so  far 
as  to  suggest  to  Colonel  Blake  that,  as  he  had  no 
subaltern  of  his  own,  and  as  some  sixty  men  were  to 
go  with  him,  and  another  officer  would  be  desirable, 
and  Mr.  Ray  was — unemployed,  he  would  be  more 
than  glad  to  have  him.  So  far  from  snubbing  him, 
Blake  had  looked  pleased.  "It  is  just  because  I  have 
known  Ray  so  long  and  have  reason  to  be  so — fond 
of  him,  having  no  son  of  my  own,"  said  he,  "that  I 
cannot  release  him  from  arrest  until  Captain  Crab- 
tree  has  had  time  to — reconsider  the  case.  As  yet  we 


222         Lieutenant  SanDp 

have  had  other  and  more  important  matters  to  occupy 
us.  Tell  Kay  for  me  that  he  must  be  patient." 

"It's  just  what  I  said  all  along/'  cried  poor  Sandy. 
"It's  a  handicap  for  me  to  be  under  Blake  at  all.  If 
I  should  happen  to  do  anything  worth  mentioning, 
though  it  might  tickle  him  to  death  and  he'd  write 
beautifully  to  Dad  about  it,  he'd  shut  me  out  of  his 
report  for  fear  he  might  overstate  my  services.  I'm 
damned  if  I  don't  wish  I'd  been  promoted  to  the 
Farmers."  By  which  descriptive,  with  no  disrespect 
to  the  agricultural  classes  be  it  said,  Mr.  Ray  and  his 
comrades  referred  to  a  certain  newly  organized  regi 
ment  of  Horse  that  stood  not  high  in  the  estimation 
of  other  commands. 

So  another  expedition  was  to  start,  and  no  Sandy 
with  it,  all  through  the  absurd  conceits  of  that  bump 
tious,  impossible,  impracticable,  un-American  pro 
tempore  accident  of  a  commanding  officer !  swore  the 
army  bred  boy  in  his  disgust.  He  begged  Fethers  to 
beg  the  colonel  to  give  him  a  hearing  in  presence  of 
Captain  Crabtree,  if  he  pleased,  at  the  earliest  possi 
ble  hour,  and  had  been  up  at  reveille,  and  astir  ever 
since,  in  hopes  of  a  summons.  Blake,  too,  was  up  with 
the  sun,  he  and  the  new  doctor  coming  forth  from  that 
rear  gateway  together,  talking  gravely  and  earnestly 
as  they  passed  the  quarters  and  on  into  the  garrison. 
It  was  soon  learned  that  the  doctor  had  spent  the 
night  at  the  colonel's ;  that  it  was  on  account  of  Mrs. 
Dean,  who  had  received  news  of  her  husband  of  suck 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hag         223 

a  character  as  to  throw  her  into  hysterics,  and  in  low 
hysterical  condition  she  had  remained  all  night,  Mrs. 
Elake  and  Gertrude  alternating  in  watch  over  her, 
with  the  native  girl  ever  hovering  about.  Up  to  the 
hour  of  guardmounting,  however,  Sandy  Ray  could 
not  imagine  the  nature  of  the  tidings  that  so  pros 
trated  the  unhappy  woman;  then,  when  told  by  Dr. 
Morton  himself,  for  the  two  were  well  known  to  each 
other  in  Manila,  Bay  could  not  in  the  least  compre 
hend  her.  It  seems  that  Mrs.  Dean  had  asked  to  see 
the  doctor  upon  his  arrival,  and  then  surprised  him 
by  anxiously  inquiring  for  her  husband. 

"I  expected  to  find  him  here,"  was  Morton's  an 
swer,  whereupon,  wild  eyed,  she  sat  up  in  bed  and 
demanded : 

"You  surely  saw  him  on  the  Formosa!     Captain 

Cowper  promised You  surely  cannot  mean  he 

was  not  aboard!"  To  which  the  much  perturbed 
practitioner  answered  reluctantly  that  he  had  every 
reason  to  believe  Mr.  Dean  was  not  aboard,  in  fact, 
that  he  had  a  letter  from  Captain  Cowper  for  her. 
This  she  demanded  at  once,  and  read  by  the  light  of 
Paloma's  lamp,  and  then  fell  back  in  hysterics.  The 
poor  creature,  said  Morton,  had  been  struggling  so 
long  against  fate  that  she  had  utterly  broken  down. 

"But  why  on  earth  should  it  matter  so  very  much 
whether  he  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Formosa  3"  was 
Sandy's  query.  "And  why  should  Cowper  have  been 
expecting  him,  and  where  could  he  be,  and  why,  now. 


224         Lieutenant 

that  it  was  fairly  well  guarded  and  secure  from  at 
tack,  should  he  not  be  at  Sulpicio  ?  Why,  if  able  to 
be  about  at  all,  should  he  not  be  there,  straightening 
out  his  tangled  affairs  and  getting  matters  into  shape  ? 
His  safe  was  there  in  the  midst  of  the  ruins,  guarded 
by  the  detachment.  His  brave  boy  slept  there  under 
the  new-made  mound  near  the  big  stone  church.  His 
wife  and  daughter  were  in  better  hands  by  far  than 
when  under  his  own  roof.  It  was  his  business  to  be 
there!  And  then  the  doctor  mentioned  those  silent 
civil  officers  of  the  law  and  the  customs,  and  their 
mission  at  San  Sulpicio,  and  then  it  dawned  upon 
Ray  that  Dean  perhaps  preferred  a  refuge  in  the 
wilderness  or  far  at  sea  to  a  rencontre  with  them.  A 
little  later  he  was  sure  of  it. 

At  ten  Prince  and  his  sixty  trudged  away,  leaving 
Belden  seated  gloomily  with  Ray,  and  now  at  last 
they  had  reason  to  hope  the  colonel  would  send  for 
and  see  these  aggrieved  young  gentlemen — both,  in 
different  ways,  victims  of  the  Crabtree  administra 
tion.  It  was  Belden  who  had  the  first  audience,  and 
a  long  one  it  proved,  for  Blake  had  many  a  question 
to  ask,  and  note  to  make.  It  was  long  after  eleven 
when  Belden  returned,  finding  Ray  curiously  study 
ing  a  parcel  brought  in  but  a  moment  before  by 
Prince's  house  boy.  Ray  crumpled  a  note  in  his 
hand  and  stowed  the  packet  in  a  pigeonhole  at  Bel- 
den's  approach,  coloring  a  bit  at  the  hurried  incivility 
of  the  proceeding,  but  Belden  hardly  noted. 


iUeutenant  ^anDp  Bap         225 

"Ray/7  said  he,  "some  of  that  stolen  mess  money 
has  been  found  here  at  the  post,  but — there  ain't  time 
to  tell  you.  The  colonel  wants  to  see  you." 

Then  oddly  Ray  faltered,  turned  back,  took  the 
packet  from  the  pigeonhole,  and  begging  Belden's, 
pardon,  locked  it  in  his  trunk.  "Something  of — 
Prince's,"  he  explained,  then  went  his  way. 

Something  told  him  Crabtree  would  be  there  to 
witness  the  coming  interview  and  there  he  was,  seated 
at  the  side,  not  the  front,  of  the  desk,  and  to  Sandy's 
surprise  the  captain  greeted  him  with  a  very  frank 
and  civil  "Good  morning,  Mr.  Ray,"  which  he  hardly 
knew  how  to  answer,  and  so  compromised  on  a  half 
bow.  Speak  he  could  not.  It  was  the  colonel  who 
did  that : 

"I  have  sent  for  you,  Mr.  Ray"  (how  odd  it 
sounded !  yet  it  must  always  be  so  on  duty,  thought 
Sandy),  ato  say  that  as  long  as  twelve  hours  ago  Cap 
tain  Crabtree  expressed  his  desire  that  you  should  be 
released  from  arrest.  It  was  I  who  kept  you  in.  The 
absence  at  this  moment  of  so  many  who  were  partici 
pants  in  this  recent— demonstration — at  the  mess, 
makes  it  impossible  to  investigate  now,  but  as  com 
mander  of  the  regiment  I  am  bound  to  tell  you  I  re 
gret  that  you  had  even  a  passive  part  in  it — that 
when,  in  my  opinion,  you  should  have  thrown  your 
influence  against  it,  you  were  silent." 

This  was  hard  to  bear  and  Ray's  eyes  began  to 
blink,  his  lips  to  twitch.  Stand  and  take  it  he  must 


226         jUeutenant  San  Dp 

and  without  a  protest.  Yet  he  longed  to  interpose  a 
word.  He  was  amazed  when  Crabtree  did  that  for 
him. 

"I — I  crave  your  pardon,  Colonel  Blake,"  said  he, 
with  infinite  deference  of  manner,  "but  possibly  Zi 
misled  you.  1  wish  to  say  right  here  that  so  far  from, 
taking  part  in  the  original  demonstration,  I  believe 
Mr.  Ray  disapproved  it.  Then  when  I  thought  him 
— accessory — to  a  piece  of — feminine  impertinence, 
he  promptly  denied  it,  and — and  with  right.  It  was 
in  what  followed  that  I  felt  compelled  to — assert  my 
self  and  restrain  Mr.  Ray.  That  object  acompiished 
I  can  have  no  desire  to  press  matters,  and — uh — er — • 
therefore  would,  myself,  have  released  Mr.  Ray 
within  the  statutory  limit.  Our — our  subsequent 
difference,  sir,  was  rather — personal — than  official." 

Sandy  was  confounded.  This  was  anything  but 
what  he  had  looked  for  at  the  hands  of  this  much  be 
rated  captain.  He  strove  to  speak,  as  Blake's  deep- 
lined  visage  seemed  to  invite,  but  the  choke  in  his 
throat  was  too  much  for  him,  and  the  colonel  saw  it. 

"Here,"  said  he,  rising  from  his  chair,  "I  have 
known  you  from  babyhood,"  and  he  placed  a  long, 
lean  hand  on  Sandy's  shoulder,  "and  I've  known  you, 
•captain,  less  than  three  months,  but  I'm  mightily; 
mistaken  in  both  of  you  if  after  such  a  piece  of  mag 
nanimity  you  two  cannot  settle  this  matter  far  better 
and  quicker  than  I  can.  Your  arrest  is  ended,  Sandy, 
but — not  your  duty."  Then,  noting  the  hot  tears 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Kap         227 

springing  to  the  young  soldier's  eyes,  "Come  and  dine 
with  us  this  evening,  both  of  you.  Now  I'll  leave 
you  to  yourselves." 

But  that  dinner  was  deferred.  At  one  o'clock  there 
had  come  a  little  note  from  Mrs.  Blake,  just  such  a 
kind,  helpful  word  as  Aunt  Nan  could  be  counted  on 
to  write,  rejoicing  in  the  release  and  reconciliation, 
and  the  prospect  of  seeing  them  that  evening — • 
"though  I  wish  our  household  were  not  so  distracted, 
with  Mrs.  Dean  worse  and  Gertrude  worn  out  with 
grief  and  worry."  At  four  o'clock  came  the  mozo, 
panting,  with  a  message.  aLa  Seiiora  Coronel — 
desea  al — instante — el  Sefior  Teniente,"  and  Sandy 
dropped  his  pen  and  the  letter  to  his  father  and  went 
almost  on  the  run. 

He  found  his  kind  friend  at  the  head  of  the  stair 
way.  Gertrude  had  worse  news  of  her  father.  "He 
is  desperately  ill  at  a  native  village  beyond  Sulpicio 
— only  a  few  miles.  She  and  Paloma  start  at  once, 
and,  Sandy,  I  can  t  let  that  child  go — with  no  other 
protection." 

"'Shall  I  ?"  was  all  he  said. 

"Will  you  f '  said  Aunt  Nannie. 

"I'll  be  ready  in  ten  minutes,"  was  the  answer,  as 
he  ran  down  the  steps.  From  the  lower  court  he 
called  to  her.  "By  saddle — or  boat  ?" 

"By  sail.  It's  out  there  now,  with  two  native 
boatmen.  She  knows  enough  of  the  language,  if  you 
don't." 


228         Lieutenant  SsanOg  Hap 

One  other  question  occurred  to  him  before  he  sped 
away  leaving  it  unasked.  "Would  she  wish  it?" 
Probably  not,  but  that  did  not  weigh  with  him  now. 
Aunt  Nan  wished  it.  He — yes — he  wished  it.  The 
sea  breeze,  if  it  held,  would  surely  waft  them  to  their 
destination  by  seven  or  eight.  The  guard  at  Sulpicio 
would  then  be  but  five  or  six  miles.  Help  could  be 
had  from  there  if  need  be.  Hurriedly  he  closed  his 
letter ;  tossed  a  few  traps  into  his  haversack,  thought 
a  moment,  then  carefully  stowed  with  them  Prince's 
little  packet,  buckled  on  his  cartridge  belt  and  re 
volver,  slung  poucho  and  blanket  over  his  arm,  and 
in  twenty  minutes  was  at  the  landing,  looking  over 
the  queer  craft  that  was  to  be  their  transport.  There 
it  tossed  on  the  ebbing  tide,  its  nose  in  the  sand,  its 
stern  washed  by  the  restless  little  breakers,  barely 
twenty  feet  long  and  a  yard  wide,  with  long,  elastic 
outriggers  lashed  securely  inboard,  and  bearing  at 
their  extremity  a  twelve  foot  bundle  of  stalks  by  way 
of  float  or  balance.  Two  uprights  of  tough  bamboo 
supported  flapping  lateen  sails.  Two  half  naked 
Tagalogs  dawdled  against  the  bow,  every  now  and 
then  shoving  a  few  inches  sternward  so  as  to  keep 
their  banca  from  sticking  fast  on  the  beach.  Amid- 
ship  was  heaped  some  matting  and  zacate  grass,  and 
to  this  Sandy  pointed  as  he  handed  his  burden  to  the 
silent  boatman.  Then  down  came  Moon  and  his 
spouse  with  substantial  store  of  bottles,  boxes  and 
vans,  that  were  stowed  well  forward.  Then  came  the 


Lieutenant  @anOp  Bap 


colonel  himself,  with  a  few  words  aside  to  Kay. 
Much  as  he  disapproved  of  Dean,  Blake  had  deep 
sympathy  for  his  family  and  was  sending  his  choicest 
and  best  in  charge  of  them.  "There's  a  lagoon  be 
hind  a  long  sand  spit,"  said  he,  "a  mile  beyond  Sul- 
picio,  and  this  takes  you  almost  directly  to  the  barrio 
where  Dean  is  laid  by  the  heels.  They  counted  on  his 
going  by  the  Formosa  to  Manila,  it  seems.  He  had 
made  them  believe  he  had  funds  and  money  at  his 
command  there  —  perhaps  he  has  —  among  the  smug 
gling  gang,  and  I'm  betting  my  future  stars  he's  sim 
ply  got  drunk  and  couldn't  be  boated  out  to  her  —  and 
has  been  there  in  hiding  ever  since.  No  wonder  he's 
sick!  He'll  be  sicker  still  when  the  revenue  crowd 
lay  hands  on  him,  and  that's  something  his  daughter 
doesn't  know.  I'll  send  Hilario  to  town,  with  her 
note  to  the  convent  people,  and  they  will  send  nurse, 
and  Sisters  of  Charity,  or  what  all  —  so  you  can  rest 
easy." 

And  then,  presently,  with  a  score  of  natives,  stol 
idly,  curiously,  looking  on,  with  jSTo.  6  and  a  corporal 
watching  from  the  gate,  but  not  another  soul  of  the 
garrison,  there  came  the  native  girl  Paloma,  bearing 
an  old  valise  of  the  colonel's  and  a  gossamer  raincoat. 
A  quick  glance  of  recognition  passed  between  her  and 
the  nearest  boatman  as  she  transferred  her  burden  to 
him.  A  quick  look  of  apprehension  shot  into  her 
eyes  at  sight  of  the  young  officer.  She  even  recoiled 
a  step,  then  suddenly  turned  to  meet  her  young  mis- 


230         Lieutenant  ©anDg  Rag 

tress,  coming  slowly,  with  Mrs.  Blake's  arm  about  her 
slender  form,  with  her  swimming  eyes  fixed  on  the 
gentle  face  of  her  benefactress. 

Something  prompted  Kay,  instead  of  stepping  for 
ward  to  assist  her  into  the  boat,  to  fall  back  and  leave 
that  duty  to  his  colonel,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  Gertrude 
could  have  seen  him  through  the  mist  of  tears.  She 
seemed  to  see  no  one  but  Mrs.  Blake.  Clasping  in 
both  her  own  the  firm,  white  hand  of  her  friend,  she 
never  for  an  instant  removed  her  gaze  from  the  sweet 
and  sympathetic  eyes  that  bent  upon  her  such  a  world 
of  compassion  and  tenderness.  There  was  something 
imploring,  something  incomprehensible,  something 
almost  unearthly  in  that  piteous  scrutiny.  It  seemed 
as  though  there  was  in  the  heart  of  the  girl  a  pas 
sionate  longing  to  throw  herself  into  Aunt  Dannie's 
clasping  arms  and  sob  out  some  burning  secret  upon 
her  breast.  Watching  her  intently,  Eay  was  appalled 
at  the  grief,  the  suffering,  in  that  pallid,  yet  beautiful 
face.  At  last  they  reached  the  wet  sands  about  the 
prow,  and  Mrs.  Blake  for  a  moment  glanced  fearfully 
about,  first  at  the  fragile  craft,  then  at  the  placid 
November  skies.  Typhoon  and  tropic  stormtime  had 
passed.  All  aloft  was  sweet  and  serene.  The  face  of 
the  waters  was  well-nigh  as  unruffled  as  that  of  the 
cloudless  heavens.  The  far  distant  sweep  of  the 
southward  shore  seemed  but  a  league  or  two  away, 
and  Sulpicio's  gray  towers  loomed  sharp  and  clear 
against  the  dark  background  of  the  banana  grove  be- 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Bap         231 

yond.  All  nature  spoke  of  peace  and  security.  Only 
here  in  this  girlish  bosom  was  there  storm  and  stress. 

The  colonel  bent  forward  to  aid  her  aboard,  sig 
nalling  as  he  did  so  to  the  bare-legged  Filipino  lads 
hovering  curiously  about  them.  Into  the  brine  they 
plunged  at  his  nod,  bounding  over  the  bamboo  braces 
and  grasping  the  narrow  footboard  that  skirted  the 
gunwales.  It  were  best  to  cut  this  parting  short  if 
the  voyagers  were  to  reach  even  Sulpicio  before  night 
fall.  But  now,  as  Blake  would  have  lifted  her  over 
the  bow,  Gertrude,  with  one  low,  sobbing  cry,  turned 
and  threw  herself  upon  Nannie's  breast.  "Mrs. 
Blake,  Mrs.  Blake!"  she  moaned,  "you  have  been  so 
good,  oh,  so  good  to  us — to  us  all,  and  I — I — oh, 
what  have  I  done !" 

Then  in  the  passion  and  abandon  of  her  grief,  or 
shame  or  misery,  or  all  combined,  she  would  have 
slipped  from  those  fond,  circling  arms  and  flung  her 
self  prostrate  at  her  feet.  But,  more  firmly  they 
clasped  her,  more  fondly  the  soft  lips  pressed  their 
kiss  upon  the  pillowed  head,  upon  the  beautiful,  rip 
pling,  tumbled  hair  and  murmured  their  words  of 
caution,  of  encouragement.  "Hush,  Gertrude,  hush, 
child.  Keep  your  strength.  Think  of  your  father 
and  his  need " 

"Oh,  it  is  that — that — and  Harry "  wailed  the 

girl,  in  her  wild  abandonment.  "It  is  that — only — 
that  can  plead  for  me !" 


232         Uteutenam  §>anDp 

And  again,  almost  sternly  now,  "Hush!"  said 
Mrs.  Blake,  with  a  warning  glance  at  Kay  and  a, 
quick  gesture  to  her  husband. 

"In  with  you,  quick,  Paloma !"  whispered  Blake, 
and  the  agile  native  girl  was  aboard  at  a  bound,  then 
turned  and  held  forth  her  hands.  Gently  the  colonel 
unclasped  the  white  arms  from  the  neck  of  his  wife 
and  drew  the  shrinking  form  to  his  side.  Another 
moment  and  he  had  stooped  and,  quick  and  sure, 
lifted  it  with  one  powerful  swing  over  outrigger,  foot 
board  and  gunwale,  heedless  of  hissing  spray  and  lap 
ping  waves,  and  all  in  that  moment,  with  her  head  in 
Paloma's  lap,  the  sobbing  child  lay  nestling  on  the 
low  grass  heap  amidship.  Kay  sprang  quickly  over 
the  bow.  A  swarm  of  native  boys  sent  the  light  craft 
shooting  through  the  sparkling  breakers  till  she  rode 
with  unfettered  prow.  The  paddles  in  the  lean 
brown  hands  dipped  and  flashed,  the  waters  foamed 
and  eddied  before  the  plunging  blades,  the  keen  stem 
swung  around  to  the  south,  the  pointed  sails  filled  and 
bellied  in  the  landward  wind,  and  the  forefoot  clove 
the  murmuring  ripples,  tossing  the  white  crests  aside, 
and  Gertrude,  lifting  head  and  hand  in  fond  adieu, 
waved  one  last  and  lingering  farewell  to  the  fading 
forms  upon  the  shore,  but  dimly  seen  through  the 
flood  of  tears,  then  buried  her  face  again  to  sob  her 
heart  out  on  Paloma's  knee,  all  unconscious  of  the 
troubled  gaze  of  the  young  soldier  crouching  at  the 


Lieutenant  San  DP  Rag         233 

foot  of  the  foremast,  and  for  her  sake  and  that  of  the 
gentle  woman  who  had  taken  her  to  heart  and  home, 
driving  swift  into  the  shadows  of  the  coming  night 
and  the  thick  of  new  perils  he  must  meet,  unaided 
and  alone. 


234:         lieutenant  SanDg  Kag 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  sun  had  set  below  the  westward  wave  and  the 
red  glow  still  tinged  the  summit  of  San  Sulpicio's 
twin  towers  as  the  long  canoe-like  banca,  speeding  on 
its  way,  at  last  headed  for  a  still  distant  point  upon 
the  shore.  Far  out  to  sea,  a  speck  upon  the  horizon, 
the  Maumee  was  vanishing  toward  Manila.  Ray, 
who  had  crept  a  little  forward  where  the  low-hung 
sail  would  not  impede  his  view,  marveled  a  bit  that 
their  dusky  helmsman  should  have  kept  so  far  out, 
sailing  aslant  into  the  wind  instead  of  coasting  closer. 
The  frail  craft  was  only  built  for  lagoon  and  river 
service,  with  a  possible  flit  along  shore  when  the  sea 
was  still,  but  it  was  taking  chances  in  any  weather  to 
venture  such  a  distance  from  land.  Two  miles  of 
dancing  water  lay  between  them  and  the  glistening 
walls  of  the  town,  as  they  shot  athwart  the  rippling 
ribbon  of  light,  stretching  between  Sulpicio's  shore 
line  and  the  glowing  disk  at  the  horizon.  Not  until 
far  beyond  possibility  of  shot  or  signal  did  their  pilot 
change  her  course.  Once  or  twice  a  word  or  two  had 
been  exchanged  between  the  two,  captain  and  crew. 
Once  or  twice  a  long,  lean,  brown  arm  in  the  bows 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag         233 

had  pointed  to  some  object  on  the  shore,  and  then  had 
flashed  a  glance  of  intelligence.  But  these  were  men 
employed  by  friends  of  Dean — men  whom  his  daugh 
ter  trusted  and  Paloma  seemed  to  know.  There  was 
nothing  for  Ray  to  do  until  once  more  landed.  There 
was  nothing  to  really  cause  him  to  think  of  treachery. 
Indeed  he  was  thinking  of  something  very  different, 
wondering  how  long  it  would  be  before  Gertrude 
Dean  became  aware  of  his  presence,  when,  rising  to 
her  knees  and  scanning  the  palm-skirted  beach  to  the 
south  and  east,  she  suddenly  looked,  all  unprepared 
and  unsuspecting,  straight  into  his  eyes.  Almost  on 
the  instant  her  look  turned  to  challenge,  and  sudden 
color  flew  to  the  face  that  had  been  so  wan  and  white. 
Bending  low,  the  young  officer  crept  beneath  the  fore 
sail  and  steadied  himself  at  the  mast.  The  breeze 
had  slackened  with  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  and 
the  gentle  sea  was  heaving  by  in  low,  lazy  billows  to 
the  shore.  The  banca  no  longer  careened  to  the  wind, 
but  dipped  idly  with  each  successive  swell.  Paloma, 
seated  with  her  back  to  the  bow,  saw  the  instant 
change  in  the  eyes  of  her  young  mistress  and  needed 
no  explanation.  Eay  was  the  first  to  speak,  and  he 
was  at  a  loss  what  to  say. 

"You  can  charge  this  to  Colonel  and  Mrs.  Blake, 
Miss  Dean,"  said  he.  "Fm  here  practically  'by 
order.'  " 

There  was  no  reply  for  a  moment.  When  it  came 
there  was  nothing  conciliatory,  to  say  the  least. 


236          Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

''They  should  not  have  put  YOU  to  the  trouble — on 
my  account." 

"They  both  feared  it  might  be  dark  before  you 
reached  your  father/7  he  managed  to  explain. 

"I  have  Paloma,  who  has  been  with  me  often — 
after  dark." 

"Yes,  1  know,  but '  then  Sandy  stopped  in 

sudden  confusion.  The  vivid  flush  had  been  fading. 
Xow  it  blazed  again.  What  on  earth  possessed  him 
to  make  so  awkward  an  admission  ?  Then,  a  second 
thought.  Well,  why  not?  since  he  knew  that,  not 
once  only,  but  thrice  at  least,  she  had  been  flitting  by 
night  through  that  mysterious  grove  and  on  those 
mysterious  missions — since  he  knew  that  she  sought 
out  or  followed  that  good-looking  but  objectionable 
youth,  his  next  door  neighbor?  And  she  who  had 
been  guilty  of  such  unmaidenly  conduct,  and  per 
haps  of  other  misdemeanor,  was  now  assuming  re- 
bukeful  airs  over  him  who  had  come  as  her  guard  and 
escort.  Up  and  back  went  the  curly,  dark  head  at 
the  instant.  He  had  still  much  of  the  boy  about  him. 

"I  shall  intrude  as  little  as  possible,"  said  he 
briefly,  "and  shall  only  be  in  your  way  an  hour  or  so 
after  you  find  your  father." 

The  name  brought  her  back  to  her  senses  and  her 
grief.  Of  course,  he  wasn't  to  blame  for  coming,  and 
it  was  like  Mrs.  Blake  to  insist  on  her  having  an 
escort,  and  it  would  be,  moreover,  a  help  and  comfort 
to  her  to  have  an  officer  near  by  in  her  extremity. 


Lieutenant  ^anOg  Uap 

Her  lips  might  have  found  it  possible  to  say  sHe 
wished  it  were  any  one  rather  than  Mr.  Kay,  but  her 
heart  refused  its  sanction.  She  knew  better.  She 
knew  that  her  grievance  against  this  old  and  dear 
friend  of  her  benefactress  was  that  he  alone,  of  all  tfie 
officers  that  she  had  met  and  known,  refused  her  the ; 
involuntary  homage  all  men  pay  a  pretty  girl,  and 
the  sympathy,  friendliness — something — that  should 
have  been  promptly  accorded  one  in  such  strait  and 
distress  as  she.  Could  it  be  that  Mr.  Kay  was  jeal 
ous  of  the  fondness  and  welcome  Mrs.  Blake  had  so 
freely  given?  Even  in  all  her  grief  and  anxiety 
Gertrude  Dean  had  so  much  of  the  woman  in  her 
that  she  meant  to  bring  this  young  gallant  to  a  realiz 
ing  sense  of  his  misconduct,  and  that  right  soon.  But 
again  the  crew  was  pointing  southwestward  now,  and 
it  was  growing  darker,  and  Paloma's  dusky  face 
looked  anxious  and  perplexed.  The  crew  was  saying 
something  to  the  combined  skipper  and  steersman 
that  even  Paloma  could  not  understand— something 
that  caused  the  latter  to  bend  low,  peering  under  the 
mainsail,  and  to  study  eagerly  the  long  line  of  dis 
tant,  sandy  shore  toward  which  the  long,  lazy  rollers 
were  slowly  bearing  them.  Then  he,  too,  spoke,  sud 
denly  and  low,  and  Paloma's  eyes  took  on  a  shade  of 
deeper  anxiety.  Kay  could  not  see  her  face.  She 
was  murmuring  something  in  Spanish,  and  the  look 
was  speedily  reflected  in  that  of  her  young  mistress, 
t  meant  trouble,  perhaps  new  trouble,  of  some  kind, 


238         Lieutenant  SanOg 

and  in  the  presence  of  common  danger  personal  dif 
ferences  had  to  be  ignored. 

"Is  anything  wrong  ?"  he  asked,  in  cautious  tone. 
"You  will  have  to  take  me  into  the  family  confidences 
for  the  time  being." 

And  though  it  sounded  flippant,  and  she  marked  it 
on  her  mental  tablets  for  future  retribution,  Miss 
Dean  felt  the  need  of  counsel  and  promptly  answered. 

"They  both  speak  Tagalog — Paloma's  dialect,  but 
now  they're  using  Ilocano.  She  thinks  they  don't 
wish  her  to  understand,  and  she  is  pretending  not  to, 
but  every  now  and  then  there  is  a  word  she  knows. 
They  are  looking  for  signals  on  shore." 

Eay  glanced  at  the  fast  fading  walls  of  San  Sul- 
picio,  now  nearly  three  miles  away  to  the  northeast. 
In  ten  minutes  all  would  be  darkness,  and  the  time 
had  surely  come  for  them  to  seek  the  mouth  of  the 
long  lagoon  of  which  the  colonel  spoke.  They  should 
even  now  be  opposite,  yet  the  prow  was  pointed  south 
ward  still.  The  sea,  not  the  shallow  estuary,  was  to 
be  their  road  unless  all  indications  failed. 

"Tell  her  to  ask  why  we  do  not  head  for  the  la 
goon,"  he  said,  and  presently,  in  answer  to  the  query 
of  the  girl,  the  helmsman  pointed  to  the  dim  point 
below  them  and  used  but  a  single  word. 

"He  says  there  are  signals  ahead,"  came  Gertrude's 
translation. 

"How  far  south  of  town  is  Mr.  Dean  supposed  to 
be?" 


JLieutenant  San  Dp  Kap         239 

"Five  or  six  miles,  at  a  little  hamlet  they  call  Bato, 
It  is  close  to  the  sea,  under  a  cliff." 

Bay  turned  and  looked  again  under  the  foresail. 
Stars  were  beginning  to  peep  through  the  eastward 
heavens.  The  shore  could  barely  be  distinguished. 
Here  and  there  a  twinkling,  firefly  light  began  to 
show  against  the  black  fringe  of  forest,  and  these  he 
eagerly  scanned.  There  was  now  barely  enough  of 
breeze  to  fill  the  sails,  and  the  frosty  foam  that  broke 
under  the  sharp  bows  had  dwindled  away  to  a  mur 
muring  ripple.  One  light,  far  to  the  left  front,  as 
the  shadows  deepened,  seemed  to  glow  and  grow  with 
more  insistence,  and  as  Ray  studied  it,  watching  the 
bow  man  the  while,  even  to  redden  with  menace. 
Twice  the  crouching  native  glanced  quickly  back 
over  his  shoulder,  but  at  sight  of  the  keen  eyes  fixed 
upon  him  in  soldier  scrutiny,  turned  instanter  to  the 
front  again  and  feigned  to  busy  himself  with  his  pad 
dle. 

"Miss  Dean/'  presently  queried  Sandy,  "has — 
Paloma  been  with  you  long?  Does  she  understand 
English?" 

"Ever  since  our  first  week  at  Manila.  A  very  lit 
tle,"  was  the  brief  reply.  It  was  not  the  first  case  he 
had  heard  of — of  deep  attachment  on  part  of  native 
girl  to  American  mistress.  The  poor  creatures  had 
known  what  servitude  meant  when  the  Spaniards 
ruled  the  islands.  American  rule  seemed  no  rule  at 
all,  and  the  women  understood  it  and  rejoiced  in  it 


240         Hieittettam 

quicker  than  did  the  men,  who  were  forever  sus 
picious  of  deep  laid  plot  or  treachery.  Kay's  own 
senses  had  told  him  something  of  Paloma's  almost 
dog-like  devotion.  Mrs.  Blake  had  told  him  more. 
He  had  ripe  reason  to  know  that  mistress  and  maid 
were  well  nigh  inseparable.  Therefore,  did  he  scoff 
at  the  idea  of  plot,  collusion  or  complicity  shared  by 
Paloma  at  the  expense  of  the  fair  and  gentle  creature 
she  served.  Yet  Paloma  seemed  at  first  to  know  these 
coastwise  mariners. 

"What  does  she  say — or  think — of  these  boat 
men?" 

"She  saw  them  often  on  the  beach  at  Sulpicio.  One 
of  them,  the  helmsman,  worked  for  father.  She  does 
not  know  what  to  think.  Mr. — Mr.  Ray,  my  eyes  are 
not  strong,  do  you  see  no  lights  about  town? — and 
none  on  shore  nearer  than  that?"  and  she  indicated 
the  very  point  which  he  had  so  curiously  been  study 
ing. 

"Hardly  a  spark  about  town,  while  this  light  ahead 
is  strong." 

"I  ask  because  Paloma  says  that  seems  beyond 
Bato,  and  the  boatman  insists  it  isn't" 

Ray  pondered  a  moment.  The  flitting  lights  to  the 
left  and  front  speedily  faded.  Only  that  one  re 
mained  strong  and  steadfast  over  the  bows,  vanish 
ing  from  sight  every  time  the  banca  slid  into  the 
shallow  dip  between  the  long,  low  billows,  then,  ris 
ing  again,  serene  and  radiant,  as  the  prow  lifted  to 


JUeutettam  §>anDp  Bag         241 

the  heave  of  the  following  swell.  The  sails  were  flap 
ping  idly  now.  There  seemed  no  wind  from  any 
quarter.  The  stars  shone  brightly  in  the  slowly 
warping  mirror  of  the  deep,  and  the  soft,  rythmic 
p]ash  of  the  paddle  seemed  to  lull  suspicion  and 
soothe  to  slumber,  but  Sandy  noted  that  the  dark 
girl's  eyes  were  ever  on  that  steersman,  squatting  at 
the  stern,  plying  his  blade  with  slow,  noiseless  sweep, 
ever  and  anon  bending  double  and  searching  the 
spangled  face  of  the  waters.  Plainly  both  mistress 
and  maid  had  new  anxiety  to  add  to  the  weight  of 
care  and  distress  with  which  they  started. 

"What  reason  does  he  give  for  heading  below  the 
barrio  2"  muttered  Kay  aLet  Paloma  ask  him." 

And  presently  the  question  was  put  in  the  Tagalog 
tongue.  Promptly  was  it  answered,  and  yet  Paloma 
hesitated  in  her  translation.  The  steersman  claimed 
that  the  little  lights  were  made  by  "bad  men/7  hop 
ing  to  lure  them  into  the  lagoon.  He  was  defeating 
their  purpose  by  heading  for  the  southern  entrance, 
Eato  lay  just  this  side  of  it.  That  light  was  set  by 
his  friends,  and  the  Sefior  Dean's,  to  bring  them 
safely  to  the  village.  It  seemed  plausible.  What 
could  Sandy  say?  but  he  slowly  drew  the  revolver 
and  tested  springs  and  cylinder. 

Dark  and  darker  grew  the  night.  Their  watery 
path  was  now  illumined  only  by  the  sentinel  stars 
and  that  steadily  glowing  beacon  over  the  bows.  But 
for  this  latter  Eay  would  have  declared  they  made 


242         Lieutenant  §>anDg  Bag 

no  headway.  Neither  on  sea  nor  shore  had  there 
been  a  sound  that  told  of  others  hovering  on  the  alert, 
but  at  last  there  came  a  sign  of  neighboring  life  that 
caused  perceptible  start  and  flutter  in  the  crew.  It 
was  long  past  sundown,  and  Ray,  anxious  to  know 
the  hour,  opened  his  watch  and  deliberately  struck  a 
match.  It  was  one  of  the  lurid  "phosphor"  variety. 
It  flared  up  like  miniature  flashlight  a  moment,  then 
dwindled  to  a  mere  glow,  but  in  that  instant  the  little 
craft  was  illumined  from  stem  to  stern,  and  one  in 
stant  later,  out  from  the  blackness,  faint  and  tem 
pered  by  distance,  came  the  sturdy  hail  in  unmistak 
able  United  States. 

"Hullo-o-o!     Boat  ahoy!" 

Sandy  sprang  to  his  feet  and  clung  to  the  mast. 
Straining  his  eyes  he  gazed  eagerly  shoreward,  the 
direction  of  the  hail,  and  his  powerful  voice,  trained 
and  tutored  in  hours  of  mounted  drill  of  thundering 
squadrons,  now  rang  out  over  the  silent  waters. 

"Hullo-o-o  yourself!  Where  are  you?  Show  a 
light!" 

So  intent  were  the  three  passengers  on  the  looked 
for  answer,  that  only  one  gave  thought  to  the  crew. 
Even  Paloma  only  casually  noted  the  instant  effect. 
The  dusky  pilot  had  swung  his  paddle  in  a  flash  from 
port  to  starboard,  and  with  powerful,  yet  noiseless 
strokes,  was  swiftly  plying  the  blade. 

But  there  ivas  no  answer. 

"Hullo-o-o!"  again  rang  Sandy's  voice.     "Where 


Lieutenant  ^anDg  Eap         243 

are  you  ?"  But  not  a  word,  not  an  articulate  sound, 
was  heard  in  reply.  Sound  of  some  kind  there  was, 
dull  and  muffled — a  sound  as  of  scurry  and  struggle 
and  fierce  muttering  and  swift  footfalls,  but  all  so 
faint,  so  indistinct  that,  even  in  the  breathless  hush 
of  the  tropic  night,  their  ears  might  never  have  noted 
had  not  every  nerve  been  called  into  action  by  that 
confident,  familiar  Yankee  hail.  Ray  called  again 
at  top  of  his  voice,  and  got  not  a  syllable  of  response. 
The  next  thing  he  realized  was  that  the  beacon  light, 
for  which  they  had  been  steering,  was  now  no  longer 
over  the  bows,  but  square  abeam.  A  moment  more 
and  it,  too,  began  suddenly  to  wane,  to  flicker,  to 
sink.  The  luring  balefire  was  being  drenched,  the 
lurking  gang  upon  the  shore  had  no  welcome  for 
craft  whence  issued  the  unexpected  challenge,  the 
ring  and  command  of  a  soldier  voice.  It  was  the  last 
thing  the  watchers  had  hoped  to  hear. 

"There's  devil's  work  there  of  some  kind,"  said 
Hay,  his  teeth  setting  hard,  his  hand  on  the  butt  of  his 
Colt.  "Tell  Paloma  to  ask  why  he  shifted."  The 
words  had  the  crisp,  sudden  accent  of  command,  not 
pleading,  and  Gertrude  heard  and  obeyed,  and  soft 
ened  to  him  for  the  voice  that  hardened. 

"Ladrones !    Mucho  malo  I"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"There  was  an  American  there,"  insisted  Ray. 
"Were  there  any  among  your  father's — associates — 
down  here  ?" 

"Two,"  faltered  Gertrude.    "Not  all  the  time,  but 


244         Lieutenant  §>anDp  Hag 

— but  Harry  found "  and  then  the  fair  head  was 

buried  again  in  mingled  grief  and  shame. 

"They  would  not  be  with  ladrones,  no  matter  what 
— other,"  he  broke  off  suddenly.  It  was  no  time  to 
refer  to  their  probable  occupation.  An  American 
being  there,  Dean  and  Bato  ought  to  be  somewhere 
close  at  hand.  That  American  had  hoped  the  light 
at  sea  meant  relief  for  their  invalid,  and  before  any 
one  could  interpose,  he  had  hailed.  Then  when  the 
answer  came,  instant  and  authoritative,  it  had 
brought  dread  to  his  associates,  whoever  they  were, 
and  discomfiture,  if  nothing  worse,  to  him.  It  was 
one  of  the  smugglers'  haunts,  then,  reasoned  Sandy, 
and  his  voice  had  suggested  revenue  officers  and  re 
prisals,  and  all  this  time  the  father  might  be  needing 
the  daughter  as  the  daughter  was  longing  for  the 
father.  Ray  had  come  with  no  search  warrant,  no 
hostile  intent.  They  need  not  fear  him,  and  he  had 
no  fear  of  them.  "Here,  you,"  he  ordered,  turning 
sharply  on  the  native,  crouching,  paddle  in  hand,  in 
the  bows,  "ask  for  Senor  Dean  1" 

Then  went  out  over  the  sluggish  billows  the  high- 
pitched,  tremulous  Tagalog  voice,  in  shrill  staccato, 
but  it  lacked  conviction,  and  no  answer  came.  "You !" 
ordered  Eay,  whirling  on  the  dim  form  at  the  stern. 
"Tell  him,  Paloma." 

And  presently  another  native  gave  tongue,  in  tones 
more  confident,  and  still  the  first  reply  was  the  faint 
echo,  shrilling  feebly  back  from  some  unseen  height 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Kap 

"beyond  the  shore.  The  low  plash  of  the  little  break 
ers  at  the  strand  was  for  half  a  minute  the  only  other 
sound.  Then  at  last  a  voice,  a  woman's  voice,  at 
which  Gertrude  and  Paloma  both  started  and  would 
have  sprung  to  their  feet,  came  wailing  across  the 
water.  "Senor  Dean  aqui — muy  malo!" 

And  then  the  daughter  turned  for  the  first  time 
fairly  upon  her  soldier  defender. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Ray,  he  is  there !  That  is  a  voice  I  know 
well.  Call,  Paloma.  Say  we're  coming  at  once." 

Then  the  dark  girl's  voice  was  again  uplifted  and 
quickly  a  dim  light  glowed  upon  the  shore,  a  light 
that  speedily  grew  stronger,  yet  somehow  did  not  glow 
as  did  that  beacon  they  had  been  following.  "Pull 
for  the  shore,"  said  Sandy,  in  the  words  of  a  Moody; 
and  Sankey  they  had  often  sung  in  old  days  on  the 
plains.  "I'm  blessed  if  I  know  what's  behind  all  this, 
but — it  isn't  my  funeral,"  he  muttered  to  himself. 
Then  as  Paloma  transmitted  the  order  and  slowly, 
reluctantly  the  banca's  head  swung  round  and  the 
paddles  dipped  again,  Ray's  thought  whimsically  fol 
lowed  the  words,  "though  it  may  be  my  funeral  be 
fore  I'm  done  with  it." 

Then  more  lights  showed  and  voices  sounded  and 
a  torch  or  two  waved,  and  presently  dim  forms  ap 
peared,  torch-bearing,  and  the  banca  shoved  her  lean 
stem  into  a  narrow  cove  that  quickly  shallowed  and 
left  them  stranded,  and  the  dusky  forms  leaped  in 
and  lined  the  gunwales.  The  sharp  prow  was  run 


246         JLieutenant  Sana?  Bag 

upon  the  pebbly  beach.  A  native  girl  held  forth  wel 
coming  hands  to  the  fragile  form  amidship,  and  Ray 
helped  swing  them  ashore,  mistress  and  maid — saw 
them  swallowed  up  in  an  eager  little  swarm  of  vil 
lagers,  and  wafted  away  presumably  to  the  hut  where 
lay  the  suffering  man.  There  was  nothing  left  for 
him  to  do  but  order  the  unloading  of  the  stores  and 
supplies.  Somebody  would  doubtless  come  for  them, 
and  there  would  be  no  further  need — or  thought — for 
him. 

Several  native  boys  still  clustered  about  He 
peered  around  him  in  search  of  the  American  whose 
voice  had  been  heard — farther  up  shore  that  must 
have  been — but  no  American  was  visible,  no  man,  in 
fact,  for  these  slender,  sinewy  little  brownskins  were 
mere  lads  of  less  than  sixteen.  He  needed  to  arrange 
with  his  Tagalog  mariners  to  take  him  back  to  Camp 
Boutelle,  but  they  only  shook  their  heads  and  would 
not  understand.  He  asked  for  the  Jefe,  the  chief — 
or  the  Presidente,  or  somebody  in  authority,  or  the 
Americano,  but  "no  sa-a-abe"  was  the  only  verbal  re 
sponse.  He  pointed  to  the  cans  and  boxes,  and  with 
alacrity  the  gang  responded.  In  a  jiffy  they  had  them 
ashore,  and  in  another  were  lugging  them  off  into  the 
darkness,  not  all  in  the  same  direction,  and  nothing 
but  prompt  measures,  sharp  words  and  a  show  of  the 
Colt  brought  them  back,  and  none  too  soon,  for  hub 
bub  arose  in  the  little  barrio.  Dim  lights  had  flick 
ered  a  moment,  and  now  were  dancing  about.  Ray; 


JLiemenam  SanDp  Kag         247 

Leard  excited  voices,  then  hurrying  feet,  then  his  own 
name  called  in  thrilling  tones.  "Mr.  Ray!  Mr. 
Ray  I"  and  he  sprang  up  the  sandy  shore  to  meet  her, 
as  she  came — flying. 

"He  isn't  here !"  she  cried,  almost  throwing  herself 
into  his  arms,  to  the  effacement  of  the  ready  revolver. 
"It's  another  boat  they  want  me  to  take  with — with 
— I  will  not  go  with  him !  she  passionately  cried.  "It 
is  only  a  mile  back  here  in  the  river.  I  have  been 
there  with  father.  Will  you — will  you " 

"Of  course  I  will !"  was  the  instant  answer.  "Get 
those  things  aboard  again,  you  sprats!"  he  shouted. 
"How  do  we  go,  Miss  Dean  2" 

"Let  them  shove  the  boat  through.  It's  the  chan 
nel  !  It  deepens  at  once.  Tell  them,  Paloma.  Tell 
them,  Anita!" 

Indeed  the  two  girls  were  telling,  and  the  "sprats" 
obeying.  In  five  minutes  they  were  afloat  in  the 
lagoon,  steering  by  the  starlight.  The  native  pilot 
had  vanished,  but  Ray  had  seized  the  crew  and  im 
pressed  a  brace  of  boys — the  sheen  of  silver  dollars 
did  that.  In  ten  minutes  they  were  well  away  from 
the  jabbering  village,  and  Ray  was  fuming  with  im 
patience  to  learn  what  manner  of  man  was  this  who 
had  shocked  her,  but  she  cowered  in  Paloma's  arms, 
even  when  pointing  the  way.  Fifteen  minutes'  twist 
and  turn  through  fringing  bamboo  brought  them  to  a 
broader  channel,  with  dim  lights  glowing  on  the 
shore,  and  thither  they  turned  their  prow,  there  again 


248         Lieutenant 

they  were  aided  to  disembark.  Then  he  heard  her 
voice  in  low  cry,  half  glad,  half  sobbing,  of  "Father ! 
— dear  father!"  and  then,  all  on  a  sudden  his  heels 
were  jerked  from  under  him,  the  back  of  his  head 
and  a  block  or  bat  of  hard  wood  met  with  a  crash  that 
filled  his  vision  with  dancing  sparks — then  came 
blackness  and  oblivion. 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag         249 


CHAPTEK  XXL 

WHEN  Sandy  Kay  began  to  recover  consciousness 
he  was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his  whereabouts — or 
anything.  He  was  again  in  a  boat  of  some  kind  and 
going  somewhere.  He  was  lying  in  the  shade  of 
some  kind  of  awning,  with  his  bruised  and  aching 
head  on  some  kind  of  pillow,  and  somebody  at  inter 
vals  was  dipping  some  kind  of  soft  fabric  in  the  water 
that  rippled  alongside,  then  wringing  it  out  and  bath 
ing  his  burning  forehead.  They  were  not  at  sea,  for 
the  motion  was  so  gently  gliding  that  he  could  hardly 
have  told  there  was  motion  at  all  but  for  the  shadows 
that  flitted  across  the  bare  mast  before  his  half- 
opened  eyes,  but  for  the  rythmic  sound  of  the  pad 
dles.  It  must  be  hours  since  last  he  stood  upon  his 
feet,  for  then  it  was  early  evening ;  now  it  was  broad 
daylight,  and  the  sun  was  higher  than  the  high  trees 
that  fringed  the  stream  and  peeped  occasionally  over 
the  low  gunwale  at  his  prostrate  form.  He  was  in 
much  pain  and  more  bewilderment,  too  weak  to  lift 
his  head,  but  presently  he  began  to  use  his  eyes.  The 
first  thing  ascertained  was  that  he  had  changed  boats. 
This  one  was  squatter,  lower,  "lighter  built,  and  had 
no  bamboo  outrigger.  The  next  thing  was  that  the 


250         lieutenant  San  Dp  Bag 

skipper,  too,  was  changed.  The  silent  native  in  the 
stern  sheets  was  a  stranger,  and  the  low  voices  that 
once  in  a  while  drifted  back  to  him  from  unseen  fel 
low  creatures  forward,  were  also  strange,  but  the  hand 
that  bathed  his  face  was  kind  and  friendly  and  gentle, 
and  then  he  suddenly  wondered  if  it  could  be — but, 
no !  He  caught  a  glimpse  of  it  presently,  and  though 
slight  and  dainty  in  shape,  it  was  very  dark,  and 
there  was  a  silver  ring  on  one  of  the  slender  fingers. 
What  could  it  all  mean  ?  Another  boat  must  be  pad 
dling  with  them,  perhaps  more  than  one,  for  from 
time  to  time  there  was  a  hail  and  an  exchange  of 
question  and  answer,  someone  toward  the  bow  being 
the  spokesman  for  their  craft.  He  was  conscious  of 
a  burning  thirst,  and  feebly  lifting  a  hand  he  mur 
mured  "Water,"  which  brought  no  response.  He 
then  tried  "agua"  with  better  result.  The  slender 
brown  hand  held  to  his  lips  a  native  canteen,  a  sec 
tion  of  bamboo  nearly  two  feet  in  length  and  three 
inches  in  diameter,  and  the  water,  though  by  no 
means  cool,  was  refreshing.  Then  the  dusky  hands 
gently  lifted  his  head  and  rearranged  the  pillow  and 
wet  the  bandages,  and  before  lowering  the  heavy 
head,  gave  him  more  water  in  a  little  gourd,  some 
thing  flavored  with  the  juice  of  the  lime  and  that  had 
a  slightly  bitter  and  saline  taste.  He  neither  knew 
nor  cared  what  it  was.  It  had  a  soothing  effect.  He 
lay  there  drowsing  and  indifferent.  He  had  no  idea 
where  they  were  taking  him,  or  why.  Vaguely  he 


.    Lieutenant  ^anDg  Ka?         251 


began  to  realize  that  lie  was  being  lifted  ashore  and 
borne  within  some  shaded  enclosure.  Vaguely  he 
heard  the  low  hum  of  voices  —  some  native,  some 
American,  one  pleading,  piteous,  almost  imploring  — 
that  he  strove  vainly  to  hear  distinctly,  to  understand, 
to  answer,  but  effort  was  vain.  Under  the  influence 
of  some  powerful  narcotic  he  lay  as  helpless  and  inert 
as  was  Brewster  of  No.  6  that  eventful  night  at  Bou- 
telle.  Where  on  earth  could  Boutelle  be  now? 
Where  on  earth,  if  on  earth  and  not  floating  on  ether, 
could  he  be  now  ?  That  voice  was  Gertrude  Dean's, 
and  she  was  in  distress,  and  that  other  voice,  good 
heaven,  whose  was  that?  Where  had  he  heard  it? 
No,  it  was  all  useless  wondering.  It  was  just  —  bliss 
to  forget  everything,  to  go  drifting  away  into  space 
and  cloudland  and  dreamland.  He  had  no  longer 
foothold,  thought,  care,  duty  upon  earth.  He  was 
floating  gently  into  realms  of  peace  and  rest  ineffable. 
Even  the  sound  of  excitement,  of  haste,  of  struggle, 
of  a  woman's  anguish,  fell  on  deafened  ears.  Of  all 
that  happened  for  hours  that  afternoon  Sandy  Ray 
was  long  innocent  and  ignorant,  even  though  his 
dimmed  and  vagrant  eyes  were  rarely  closed. 

Then  came  semi-consciousness  again,  for  all  was 
dark  and  silent  and  stealthy,  and  some  one  was  half 
lifting,  half  dragging  him,  on  matting  perhaps,  and 
dim  forms  hovered  about  him,  and  he  mumbled  in 
articulate  protest,  and  a  soft  hand  —  such  a  cold  little 
hand  —  was  laid  firmly  upon  his  mouth.  Then  he  was 


252         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Rap 

lifted  bodily  and  again  sprawled  helpless  in  a  boat, 
and  his  head  was  pillowed  on  something  that  was  not 
zacate  grass,  and  the  little  hand  was  withdrawn,  and 
he  was  allowed  to  mumble  if  he  so  desired,  for  again 
they  were  afloat  and  paddling  away — somewhere. 

Finally,  dawn  again,  and  then  sunrise,  for  he  could 
see  the  gilded  treetops  and  hear  the  clamor  of  tropic 
birds  and  the  busy  hum  of  forest  insects,  yet  where 
he  lay  all  was  semi-darkness.  His  pillow  had  been 
changed.  He  still  stretched,  full  length,  in  the  bot 
tom  of  a  native  boat,  but  she  lay  moored  in  some  little 
nook,  surrounded  by  dense  foliage.  She  was  afloat 
and  swinging  at  times  from  side  to  side  under  the  in 
fluence  of  a  fairly  rapid  current,  and  he  could  hear 
the  plash  and  murmur  of  running  waters  over  a  stony 
bed.  He  wondered  why  the  overhanging  branches 
seemed  so  dim  and  nebulous,  and  his  searching  hand 
came  in  contact  with  a  film  of  mosquito  netting  that 
shielded  him  from  the  attacks  of  countless  winged 
creatures,  droning  and  humming  about  his  floating 
prison.  Who  were  his  jailors,  and  what  could  be 
their  purpose?  He  was  still  dreamy  and  inert,  yet 
the  mind  was  again  asserting  itself  and  questioning. 
One  thing  was  reassuring.  Whoever  were  his  cap 
tors  there  was  kindness  among  them,  else  there  would 
have  been  no  netting. 

Another  hour,  and  then  he  began  to  hear  at  last 
from  these  captors.  Low,  soft,  cautious  voices 
sounded  close  at  hand,  then  a  little  head,  silhouetted 


JLieutenant  SanBp  Kap         253 

against  the  blaze  of  light  far  aloft,  bent  over  the 
mosquito  bar,  and  he  blinked  his  eyes  in  vain  effort  to 
distinguish  the  features.  Then  it  bent  lower  still,  so 
close  to  the  gossamer  screen  that  he  could  no  longer 
doubt  his  senses.  Dark  as  it  had  looked  against  the 
radiance  aloft,  that  was  no  dusky  face  that  lowered 
so  near  his  own.  Pallid,  drawn  and  clouded  with 
anxiety  and  distress  of  mind,  it  was  still  sweet,  gen 
tle  and  unmistakable,  and  his  lips,  in  his  stupor  and 
amazement,  now  murmured  for  the  first  time  her 
name,  whereat  the  fair  face  was  suddenly  withdrawn, 
but  a  long,  white  hand  came  speedily  to  raise  the 
filmy  barrier,  and  he  heard  her  voice,  low  and  cau 
tious  and  filled  with  warning : 

"Don't  stir  yet.  Try  to  keep  quiet  and  patient. 
Our — everything  depends  upon  it." 

There  were  voices  at  the  stream  bank.  It  sounded 
as  though  several  women  were  chattering  at  once. 
Then,  these  voices  began  to  float  away  and  diminish 
in  the  distance.  Evidently  there  had  been  another 
banca  and  another  boatload,  mostly  feminine  unless 
his  ears  deceived  him.  Were  there  women  on  the 
warpath  ?  Were  the  days  of  the  Amazons  returning  ? 
He  had  recognized  the  voice  of  Paloma,  but  the  oth 
ers  he  knew  not  at  all.  Presently  for  several  minutes  ! 
all  was  silence  again.  Then  once  more  the  face  of 
Gertrude  Dean  appeared  to  him.  There  was  an  eager, 
intense  look  in  her  tired  eyes.  Without  a  word  to 
him,  she  was  studying  the  situation,  weighing  the 


254:         lieutenant 

chances.  Then  suddenly  the  little  face  vanished  a 
second  time.  There  was  murmured  confidence  be 
tween  her  and  some  other  unseen  friend,  and  pres 
ently  the  netting  was  drawn  aside.  A  brown  hand 
and  sinewy,  brown  arm  aided  him  to  a  sitting  pos 
ture,  and  then  Gertrude  came  and  stood  before  him. 

"There's  only  one  man  with  us  now,  Mr.  Ray,  but 
— could  you  walk  just  a  few  yards  with  his  help,  and 
— ours? 

Between  them  they  lifted  him  and,  supported  by 
them,  he  stepped  ashore  and  looked  slowly,  wonder- 
ingly,  about  him.  Through  openings  among  the 
trees  he  saw  the  broad,  placid  bosom  of  the  stream, 
shallow,  perhaps,  yet  navigable  for  banca  and  light 
canoe.  Close  at  hand  the  little  brook  came  babbling 
down  from  the  southward  heights  and  making  a  tiny 
harbor,  just  big  enough  to  float  their  transport  behind 
its  leafy  screen,  and  there  to  hide  it  from  all  eyes 
along  the  river.  Within  a  few  paces  of  the  brook,  in 
the  heart  of  a  little  thicket,  busy  hands  had  laced  and 
entwined  the  branches  and  built  a  little  shelter 
toward  which  his  gentle  guides  were  leading  him. 
Paloma,  gathering  armfuls  of  zacate  from  the  boat, 
was  spreading  it  upon  the  ground  and  giving  im 
perious  orders  to  the  meek  Tagalog  boatman,  as  she 
hurried  to  and  fro.  Presently,  too,  as  they  seated 
Itay  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  she  fetched  a  tin  pail  of 
water  from  the  boat,  and  with  deft  hands  undid  and 
carefully  removed  the  bandages,  while  her  young 


JLieutenant  §>anDg  Bap         255 

mistress,  pale  and  silent,  busied  herself  in  preparing 
fresh  ones.  Even  then  Ray  wondered  whence  came 
that  soft,  white  fabric,  for  his  "Eirst  aid  for  the 
wounded'7  packet  was  with  his  saddle  bags.  How 
ever,  he  asked  no  questions,  and  probably  would  have 
been  accorded  scant  reply.  A  little  later,  soothed, 
bathed,  refreshed,  but  still  weak,  he  stretched  at  full 
length  upon  a  softer  couch  than  the  unyielding  bot 
tom  of  the  banca,  and  was  presently  able  to  sip  some 
lime  juice  and  water,  and  nibble,  like  a  schoolboy,  at 
bread  and  jam.  Aunt  Nannie's  store  of  provision, 
sent  for  the  ailing  father,  had  been  miscellaneous  as 
the  Moons'  Hibernian  heads  could  make  it,  but  noth 
ing  had  come  amiss.  There  was  evidently  quite  a  lit 
tle  stock  of  bags,  boxes  and  cans  in  the  banca,  and 
Paloma  was  busying  herself  unloading  these,  while 
the  young  officer  ate  sparingly,  but  sipped  eagerly  at 
the  acid  water,  and  wondered  when  his  fair  guardian 
would  again  visit  him,  and  explain.  She  was  no 
where  within  view,  and  at  last  he  begged  Paloma, 
who  was  flitting  about  her  patient  and  seemed  again 
contemplating  sending  him  to  sleep,  to  call  the 
senorita.  Paloma  feigned  deafness,  but  Gertrude 
heard  and  came. 

"Please  tell  me  where  we  are,  and  what  has  hap* 
pened,  and  what  it  all  means/'  he  said. 

"!Not  yet,"  she  answered,  slowly.  "In  fact,  I  can 
not  explain  things  myself,  only,  father  knew  you 
were  in  desperate  danger  and  he  was  grateful  to  you 


256         JUeutenant 

and  he  had  you  brought  here  where  we  can  hide  you 
until  help  can  come  from  Camp  Boutelle." 

"But — he  was  so  ill — and  needed  you,  and  you 
are  here/7  persisted  Sandy.  "Where  is  he  ?" 

"Safe,  gone.  Sea  air  will  do  for  him  more  than  I 
could.77  There  was  a  touch  of  bitterness  in  her  tone, 
"and  he  is  miles  away — by  this  time.77 

"And  left— you?77 

"I  could  not  go.  I  must  return  to  mother  as  soon 
— as  soon  as  your  friends  can  come  to  you." 

"But — why  didn't  you — return  from  there,  wher 
ever  we  were,  last  night — or  whenever  it  was  ?77 

She  had  her  answer  ready.  "They  needed  the 
banca  for  him.  We  could  not  have  gone  in  this,  even 
had  there  been  no  trouble  with  the  natives.  There 
was  the  Presidente  at  Bato  and  another  from  Sul- 
picio.  They  made  insolent  demands  that  father 
would  not  meet,  even  if  he  could  have  done  so,  and 
there  was  a  quarrel — and  some  were  hurt.  They 
were  beaten  off  at  the  time,  after  you  were  attacked, 
but  they  rallied  their  people  and  we  had  to  get  away 
quickly.  Then  father  was  hurried  off  to  the  sea  to 
)  meet  a  boat  that — that  he  knew  of,  and  we  were  pad 
dled  up  here  to  keep  in  hiding  until  Colonel  Blake 
can  send  the  soldiers.  The  danger  is  that  the 
ladrones  who  attacked  Lieutenant  Blunt7s  company 
are  now  with  the  Presidente's  friends,  and  they  are 
furious  at  father's  escape,  and  they  are — looking 
high  and  low  for  us.77 


lieutenant  ®anDg  Bap         257 


"Who  got  word  to  the  colonel  —  and  how  3"  asked 
Sandy,  a  queer  train  of  thought  running  through  his 
troubled  head. 

l  "They  would  send  word  —  father's  friends  —  from 
the  steamer  to  shore.  The  Maumee  had  sailed.  She 
knew  nothing  of  your  going  to  Bato.  Father  tried  to 
signal  to  her  from  the  cliff,  back  of  the  village,  but 
the  Fresidente  stopped  him." 

"If  they  could  send  word  ashore  —  they  could  send 
you  —  and  that  was  the  quickest  way  back  to  your 
mother/7  he  persisted  again.  But  again  she  parried. 

"The  banca  was  overcrowded  as  it  was.  They  had 
to  leave  two  men  —  he  —  he  had  promised  should  go  — 
and  things  that  were  needed." 

It  was  a  case  of  "when  rogues  fall  out,"  mused 
Sandy,  but  there  was  still  more  he  wished  to  know. 
"Why  should  the  Presidente's  people  have  attacked 
him,  or,  having  attacked,  why  had  they  not  finished 
him  ?  Then,  as  one  waking  from  a  dream,  he  was  be 
ginning  to  recall  her  words,  her  agitation  at  Bato; 
after  they  had  heard  that  American  hail,  after  she 
had  found  that  her  father  was  not  at  the  village,  but 
in  hiding  somewhere  up  the  river. 

"You  had  found  your  father  before  I  was  as 
saulted,"  said  he.  "I  heard  you  speaking  to  him.  It 
was  the  last  thing  I  did  hear.  Why  didn't  they  kill 
me  then  ?  I  can't  understand  this  at  all.  And  then 
•  —  you  came  running  back  while  there  at  Bato,  saying 


258         JUeittenant  San&p  IRag 

that  you  would  not  go  with  somebody  or  other.  .Who 
was  that  ?" 

And  now  the  red  was  mantling  the  cheek  that  a 
moment  earlier  was  so  pale  and  wan,  but  she  looked 
him  fairly  in  the  face  and  answered.  "A  man  I 
knew  to  be  father's  enemy,  and  believed  to  have  been 
Harry's.  You  were  attacked  because  they  thought 
you — our  friend." 

And  all  this  time  she  had  remained  standing.  Tall 
and  slender,  even  stately  she  seemed  to  him,  lying 
languidly  there  on  his  pallet  of  zacate,  and  now  she 
deemed  that  quite  enough  had  been  said  to  explain  the 
situation,  and  that  further  questioning  would  be  an 
impropriety,  even  an  indignity.  "That  is  the  end  of 
the  lesson,  Mr.  Ray,"  said  she.  "You  can  ponder 
yourself  to  sleep  over  those  facts,  for  I  want  you  to 
be  looking  better  when  your  friends  come.  We  may 
have  to  put  you  on  guard." 

With  that  she  turned  and  left  him,  nor  would  she 
answer  his  complaining  call.  Paloma  came,  but  he 
did  not  need  Paloma,  who,  notwithstanding,  crouched 
beside  him,  removed,  moistened  and  replaced  his 
bandages,  then  bade  him  be  still  and  sleep.  So  find- 
ing  both  mistress  and  maid  implacable,  he  drowsily 
composed  himself  to  obey. 

It  was  nearly  nightfall  when  he  woke  again.  All 
was  deep  gloom  about  the  refuge.  All  was  silent. 
He  was  thirsty,  and  there  swung  the  bamboo  canteen 
just  within  easy  reach.  He  was  getting  hungry 


Lieutenant  @>anDg  Eap         259 

again,  and  there  stood  a  close-covered  tin  box,  which, 
being  opened,  was  found  to  contain  more  bread  and 
sardines,  with  slices  of  lime  instead  of  lemon,  and 
more  jam  and  a  stick  or  two  of  nutritious  chocolate. 
In  silence  and  reflection  he  ate  and  drank,  then  called 
Paloina,  and  no  Paloma  answered,  but  again  came 
Gertrude.  How  weary  she  looked ! 

"Paloma  has  gone  a  little  distance — to  a  bluff  from 
•which  the  towers  at  Sulpicio  can  been  seen.  She  was 
to  return  at  sunset.  Can  I  do — anything  ?" 

k4The  bandage  feels  hot  and  heavy,"  said  he7 
" though — perhaps  I " 

But  she  quietly  knelt.  He  bowed  his  head  at  her 
behest,  and  her  slender  fingers  were  presently  at 
work  among  the  folds.  Then  as  quietly  she  plied  the 
dripping  sponge  a  moment  and  thus  was  she  busily 
occupied  when,  in  the  gathering  dusk,  Paloma  ap 
peared  at  the  entrance.  A  quick  glance  of  interroga 
tion  shot  from  Gertrude's  eyes.  For  all  answer 
Paloma  silently  shook  her  head,  then  turned,  pointed 
to  the  skiff  that  had  borne  them  to  their  refuge  and 
said  a  few  words  in  the  Tagalog  tongue.  Gertrude's 
face  grew,  if  anything,  whiter,  certainly  graver,  but 
instantly  she  shook  her  head.  "No,  indeed  no!"  he 
heard  her  answer. 

When  next  Sandy  Ray  would  have  sought  the  ser 
vices  of  Paloma,  and  late  at  evening,  thrusting  aside 
his  newly  suspended  mosquito  bar,  he  would  have 
called  her  to  moisten  that  muffling  band,  a  dim  light 


260         Lieutenant  ^anflp  Bag 

as  of  a  glow  worm,  showed  through  the  foliage.  Ger 
trude,  with  a  little  hurricane  lamp  in  hand,  again 
appeared.  This  time  he  slowly  found  his  feet  and, 
steadying  himself  as  best  he  could,  made  his  way  to 
her  side.  "I'm  quite  able  to  bathe  it  myself,"  said 
he,  "if  Paloma's  sleeping.  Let  me  have  your  lamp  a 
minute."  Mutely  she  gave  it,  but  watched  him,  as 
feebly,  uncertainly,  he  managed  to  reach  the  brook- 
side,  Gertrude  following  in  case  of  need.  At  the 
brink  he  stopped  short,  swung  his  lamp  toward  the 
shallow  pool  in  which  at  dusk  the  skiff  tugged  idly 
at  its  moorings.  The  berth  was  vacant  now.  The 
skiff  was  gone.  Turning  to  her  for  explanation,  he 
saw  her  actually  swaying,  grasping  a  twig  for  sup 
port,  and  weak  though  he  was,  sprang  instantly  to 
aid  her.  Down  she  sank,  burying  her  face  in  her 
hands,  and  down  he  dropped  beside  her,  his  own 
cares  forgotten  instantly  at  sight  of  her  dismay. 

"What  is  it?  Don't  worry  so,  Miss  Dean,"  he 
cried. 

But  the  answer  appalled  him: 

"They're  all  gone  I"  she  moaned.  "The  boat— the 
boatman — and  Paloma — all  1" 


Lieutenant  @anDp  Kap         26i 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

DAWN  had  come  again,  and  sunrise,  and  broad  day 
light  among  the  treetops,  though  all  below  them 
seemed  wrapped  in  shade — all  but  the  birds  seemed 
wrapped  in  slumber.  Close  to  the  edge  of  the  river, 
in  bedraggled,  even  blood-stained  khaki,  with  matted 
hair  and  haggard  eyes,  a  young  soldier  crouched  in 
the  brake  and  with  keen  and  eager  glance  studied  the 
distant  reach  of  the  sluggish  stream.  For  hours  he 
had  held  to  his  post,  weakened  by  loss  of  blood,  by 
pain,  fever  and  exposure,  and  pondering  gloomily, 
as  well  he  might,  over  the  probable  issue  of  this 
strange  and  hapless  adventure.  Twice  during  the 
long,  perilous  night  stray  parties  of  natives — 
whether  ladrones,  insurrectos  or  friends  he  knew  not. 
and  dare  not  inquire — had  passed  within  pistol  shot 
of  his  lair,  but  he  had  no  pistol.  That  had  been 
wrenched  from  his  holster  during  the  sudden  fracas 
in  the  dusk  at  Bato.  Once,  somewhere  about  mid 
night,  the  sound  of  voices,  of  eager  words  in  the 
Tagalog  tongue,  had  brought  him  hurrying  from  the 
river  brink  at  the  north  to  the  edge  of  the  narrow, 
brook-fed  basin  that  lay  to  the  southwestward  of  the 
little  shelter  in  the  thicket  that  had  now  become 


262         Lieutenant  S>an5g  Bag 

almost  a  sacred  charge.  Obviously  there  was  a  trail 
through  the  bamboo,  leading  from  the  mountains  to 
the  sea,  and  this  was  probably  some  party  hurrying 
to  the  support  of  their  fellows,  and  hoping  for  a 
share  in  the  anticipated  spoil.  Ray  could  hear  them 
splashing  through  the  brook  perhaps  fifty  yards  up 
stream,  then  speeding  away  with  almost  noiseless 
tread,  their  voices  dying  gradually  in  the  distance. 
Breathing  free  again,  he  crept  back  to  the  more 
dreaded  highway,  the  river,  stopping  just  one  mo 
ment,  bending  low  and  listening  at  the  entrance  to 
the  little  rustic  refuge  that  had  been  his,  then  tip 
toeing  away  until  again  he  knelt  at  his  station.  He 
had  slept  hours  the  previous  day,  a  deep,  dreamless 
and  probably  a  drug-aided  sleep,  but  now,  despite 
weakness  and  languor,  his  senses  were  keenly  alert. 
£Tot  a  vestige  of  fire  or  smoke  could  be  seen  about  the 
lair.  He  had  long  since  doused  the  feeble  glim  of  the 
lamp.  ~Not  a  precaution  had  he  neglected  since  ho 
had  no  longer  firearms  with  which  to  defend.  It  was 
not  his  own  life  now  that  he  had  such  need  to  guard. 
There  beneath  those  sheltering  boughs,  sleeping  the 
sleep  of  exhaustion,  lay  a  girl  who  had  periled  every 
thing  to  rescue  him  from  the  toils  by  which  he  had 
been  surrounded.  Of  that  fact  he  had  no  longer 
doubt. 

The  sudden,  the  overwhelming  discovery  that  they 
were  deserted,  possibly  betrayed,  by  Paloma  and  her 
dusky  lover,  the  boatman,  had  proved  too  much  for 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Kap         263 

Gertrude's  remaining  strength  and  nerve.  She  could 
have  staked  her  life  on  that  girl's  fidelity.  She  had 
lavished  love  and  kindnesses  innumerable  upon  her, 
and  had  believed  that  she  had  abundant  and  innumer 
able  proofs  of  Paloma's  responsive  devotion — some 
indeed  that  she  dare  not  let  him  know.  She  had 
found  the  girl  resourceful,  helpful,  daring,  through 
out  all  this  strange  and  perilous  week,  and  finally^ 
when  she  could  not  feel  sure  that  her  father's  shady 
associates  would  send  word  of  their  plight  to  Colonel 
Blake,  and  when,  toward  sunset,  she  learned  from 
Paloma  that  there  were  no  signs  of  coming  relief, 
moreover,  that  they  must  now  be  full  thirty  miles  by 
road  and  twisting  trail,  and  more  than  that  by  sea, 
lagoon  and  river  from  Camp  Boutelle,  she  listened 
eagerly  to  Paloma's  offer,  yet  had  promptly  and 
positively  refused. 

The  girl  had  begged  of  her  young  mistress  permis 
sion  to  take  the  boat  and  the  boatman,  and  go  by- 
night  back  along  their  perilous  and  hampered  route. 
Paloma  declared  she  could  find  means  to  slip  by  all 
scouts  and  stations,  and  so  to  reach  the  garrison  at 
Boutelle.  Gertrude  had  forbidden  the  desperate  at 
tempt,  and  the  native  girl,  who  had  never  dared  dis 
obey  her  faintest  wish  or  mandate,  had  turned  trait 
ress  at  the  last.  "It  wras  Pedro's  doing,"  sobbed  Ger 
trude,  in  despair.  He  was  faint-hearted.  He 
dreaded  the  vengeance  of  his  fellows.  He  had  been 
pleading  with  Paloma  hour  after  hour.  Gertrude  had 


jUewenam  §>anDg  Hap 


seen  and  heard  it.  Paloma  had  owned  to  her  that 
Pedro's  home  was  only  a  day's  journey  farther  south 
ward  —  that  they  could  reach  it  by  going  up  stream  a 
dozen  miles  and  then  by  sheltered  trail.  Pedro  had 
been  imploring,  then  probably  insistent.  Malay  blood 
coursed  in  their  veins  both  hot  and  treacherous.  They 
were  speeding  somewhere  to  safety,  leaving  these 
hapless  Americanos  to  their  fate. 

But  even  then  Eay  could  not  account  for  her  utter 
hopelessness,  she  who  had  been  so  brave,  so  daring, 
first  for  her  father,  and  then,  with  that  father  safe 
from  the  clutches  of  the  law  and,  so  long  as  he  be 
haved  himself,  from  the  immediate  ravages  of  dis 
ease,  then  —  how  could  Kay  doubt  it?  —  had  she  not 
been  just  as  daring  for  him.  The  entire  story  he 
might  never  know,  but,  between  her  and  her  Tagalog 
handmaid,  he  had  been  snatched  from  the  midst  of 
foes  and  spirited  away  to  at  least  temporary  safety, 
and  they,  in  sharing  his  flight,  had  come  to  share  his 
peril.  Small  wonder  that  Pedro  had  begged  his  Dul- 
cinea  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  It  was  of  course 
embarrassing,  distressing,  disquieting  that  Gertrude 
should  thus  be  left  alone  with  him  in  the  heart  of  a 
Philippine  forest,  but  it  was  not  necessarily  dreadful. 
What  with  Blake  and  his  little  garrison  only  thirty 
miles  away  to  the  north,  and  Blunt's  original  forty 
somewhere  a  few  miles  off  to  the  south,  with  Prince 
and  his  company  in  march  between  them,  speedy 
search  must  be  made  for  the  missing  officer.  Then, 


Lieutenant  San&p  Uag         265 

too,  though  Ray  detested  Walker  and  all  his  works, 
even  such  as  Walker  and  his  squad  were  not  to  be 
despised  as  rescuers,  if  they  should  have  failed  to 
reach  Blunt,  and  be  still  searching  and  scouting  in. 
this  neighborhood.  The  Dagupan  trail  could  not  be 
very  far  inland,  though  it  had  to  keep  well  back 
among  the  heights  because  of  the  summer  flooding  of 
these  lowland  streams.  To  Ray  the  situation  seemed 
not  only  hopeful,  but  intensely  interesting.  Why, 
then,  should  she  so  utterly  collapse  ? 

He  had  striven  to  soothe  and  cheer  her,  pointing 
out  that  there  was  even  less  danger  of  their  being 
discovered,  now  that  the  betraying  boat  was  gone. 
They  had  provisions  enough,  such  as  these  dainties 
were,  to  last  two  days,  by  which  time,  surely,  Blake 
would  have  his  searching  detachments  in  the  field, 
and  the  shores  of  this  important  stream  would  as 
surely  be  explored.  But  Gertrude  sobbed  that  these 
banks  were  even  better  known  to  the  ladrones,  and 
the  natives  generally,  than  the  inland  trails.  They 
would  certainly  be  coming  in  search  of  them.  He 
had  had  almost  to  carry  her  to  the  little  shelter  that 
had  been  his,  but  that  now  should  be,  must  be,  hers. 
She  must  go,  he  said,  she  must  lie  down,  rest,  sleep, 
recover  strength.  But  not  until  he  almost  sternly 
commanded  would  she  yield.  Then  he  had  gathered 
up  such  packages  of  stores  as  he  could  find,  stowed 
them  deep  in  the  thicket,  obliterated  every  possible 
trace  of  their  presence,  then  he  knelt  and  listened  a 


266         Lieutenant  San  Dp 

the  entrance,  and,  hearing  no  sound,  ventured  to  peep 
into  the  dim  interior  to  satisfy  himself  that  she  had 
obeyed,  and  was  lying  beneath  the  mosquito  bar  that 
had  been  strung  for  him.  Vaguely,  mistily  he  could 
just  discern  the  slender  form,  stretched  full  length, 
apparently,  in  a  sleep  of  utter  exhaustion.  Then, 
with  a  murmured  prayer,  he  stole  softly  away  and 
hied  him  to  the  lookout  Pedro  had  scooped  among 
the  flotsam  and  jetsam  at  the  bank. 

Not  an  hour  later,  as  he  crouched  there  watching, 
the  sound  of  other  voices,  faint  in  the  distance,  came 
drifting  to  his  ears,  and  again  every  sense  became 
instantly  alert.  Slowly  the  occasional  sounds  in 
creased  in  volume.  Natives  again,  but  this  time  in 
bancas!  Slowly  their  shadowy  transports  rounded 
the  forest-bordered  bend  half  a  mile  up  stream. 
Sandy  could  tell  the  moment  they  straightened  out 
in  the  starlit  mid-channel  by  the  clearer  ring  of  their 
gutterals. 

Nearer  they  came  and  nearer,  as  yet  unseen  in  the 
deep  shadows.  Evidently  they  feared  neither  foe 
nor  interruption,  for  the  chatter  was  unrestrained, 
yet  not  boisterous.  Nor  was  there  excitement  in  tone 
or  manner,  nor  anything  to  indicate  that  they  sought 
either  to  conceal  their  own  movements  or  discover 
those  of  others.  They  were  neither  hunting  nor 
hunted.  So,  before  they  were  within  hailing  dis 
tance,  Sandy  slipped  away  from  his  post  and  around 
to  the  entrance  of  the  little  bower  where  slept  the  lady 


lieutenant  §>anUg  Hap         26? 

this  young  knight  must  guard  from  every  ill.  If 
restless  or  sleeping  lightly,  she  might  suddenly  awake 
at  sound  of  voices,  and,  thinking  instantly  of  Paloma, 
call  rejoicingly  aloud.  His  caution  was  not  unwar 
ranted.  Just  opposite  their  refuge  the  voices,  that 
for  a  moment  had  been  stilled,  broke  out  afresh.  A 
call  from  one  canoe  to  another  rang  out  across  the 
unruffled  waters,  and  instantly  Ray  heard  start  and 
stir  within.  The  girl  had  roused  suddenly  from  her 
sleep,  and  the  next  moment,  bending  low,  she  met  him 
almost  face  to  face,  only  to  hear  him  order,  "Hush ! 
Not  a  sound!"  And  so  with  beating  hearts  they 
knelt,  her  little  hand  within  an  inch  of  his,  their 
knees  almost  touching,  and  listened  until,  one  after 
another,  three  bancas  were  paddled  almost  stealthily, 
noiselessly,  by,  and  then  again  he  begged — he  bade 
her  creep  back  to  her  rustic  pillow.  "These  at  least 
are  not  searching  for  us,"  he  said.  "We  can  rest  in 
peace  until  the  morning." 

"Yes,  /  can,"  she  answered,  "but  you  who  are  ill — 
and  injured."  Whereat  he  laid  imperative  hand 
upon  her  arm.  "Creep  back  and  sleep,"  he  insisted. 
"You  shall  do  guard  duty  to-morrow." 

Twice  again  during  the  early  morning  hours  he 
had  stirred  about  to  keep  a  leg  or  arm  from  going  to 
sleep.  Twice  again  he  had  knelt  by  the  leafy  en 
trance  and  listened.  Once  he  thought  he  could  faintly 
hear  her  breathing,  soft,  regular  and  low,  and  then  at 
last  the  birds  began  to  twitter  and  stir  in  the  foliage 


268          Lieutenant  SanDp  Bap 

aloft,  and  forest  birds  seemed  so  rare  in  Luzon.  A 
grayish  pallor  was  overspreading  the  skj  and,  far 
down  stream,  some  unseen  aquatic  fowl  began  to 
splash  and  quack  in  the  silent  reaches;  a  mist  rose 
softly  from  the  sluggish  pool,  and  above  it  all  the 
dawn  came  on  apace  until  once  more  the  sunshine 
burst  through  the  forest  fringe  of  the  eastward  chain, 
and  tipped  with  fire  the  lowland  groves,  and  the  crest 
of  the  seaward  billows.  Ray's  long  night  watch  came 
to  an  end,  with  his  precious  charge  still  safe,  still 
softly  sleeping,  and  then,  when  he  could  have  begun 
to  feel  a  little  more  hope  and  confidence,  there  came 
a  sound  that  brought  him  quivering  to  his  feet  and 
facing  full  to  the  threatening  west. 

Somewhere  over  toward  the  sea,  through  the  thick 
and  tangled  shrubbery,  two  shots  were  fired  in  quick 
succession  and  went  rolling  and  echoing  up  the  river. 
Something  told  him  she,  too,  would  have  found  her 
feet  and,  hurrying  to  the  refuge,  there  he  met  her, 
crouching  at  the  entrance,  her  eyes  dilated,  her  lips 
apart,  her  white  hands  pressed  upon  her  throbbing 
heart.  Thus  far  their  disturbers  had  come  from  the 
hills.  ~No w  they  were  coming  from  the  direction  of 
the  sea,  from  the  point  whence  they,  the  fugitives, 
had  escaped  them.  Was  it  thither  Paloma  had  gone  ? 
Was  it  she  who  was  leading  them  to  the  sheltering 
nook  she  herself  had  more  than  helped  to  make? 
Whoever  might  be  leading,  these  probably  were 
enemies,  and  were  coming  fast.  Ten  minutes  more 


Lieutenant  @anOp  Kap         269 

and  their  voices  could  be  heard,  guiding  shouts  and 
even  commands — signals — interchanged  between 
shore  and  shallop.  They  were  coming  both  by  land 
and  water. 

A  moment  or  two  they — the  hunted — stood  there,  < 
the  silent  soldier  and  the  trembling  girl,  so  close  that 
each  could  almost  feel  the  beating  of  the  other's  heart, 
but,  intently  as  Ray  was  listening,  he  was  watching 
her,  and  noting  that  even  more  intently,  and  with 
fearful  interest,  she  was  listening,  for  in  her  dilating 
•eyes  there  came  a  look  of  infinite  horror,  of  dread  un 
speakable.  The  next  thing  he  knew  she  had  clutched 
his  hand.  "Oh,  come,  come  away  from  here/7  she 
cried,  imploringly.  "We  must  go  !" 

"We  can't  go !"  said  he.  "Listen !  They  are  above 
us  now!  Some  are  already  at  the  crossing  of  the 
brook/7  and  again  he  turned  his  listening  ear  that 
way.  Surely  he  was  right!  Speeding  swiftly  along 
the  trail,  the  foremost  natives  were  already  at  the 
point  where  the  hill  party  had  crossed  at  midnight. 
He  could  plainly  hear  their  voices,  almost  their 
words,  but  to  these  Gertrude  would  not  listen.  In 
some  strange,  fearful  fascination  she  had  no  eyes, 
no  ears,  for  anything  but  the  coming  boatloads  in  the 
stream.  Whoever  these  advancing  through  the  tim 
ber,  they  had  not  turned  riverward  on  reaching  the 
brook.  They  had  gone,  indeed,  beyond,  and  could  be 
heard  calling  back  to  their  fellows  in  the  rear,  but 
the  girl  was  crouching  now  and  listening  only  to  the 


270         Lieutenant  @>anDp  Hag 

sounds  from  below.  Ray  could  distinguish  several 
voices  as  the  bancas  came  paddling  nearer,  although 
as  yet  no  words  to  him  were  distinguishable.  Sud 
denly,  however,  there  was  a  shout  in  commanding 
tone,  at  sound  of  which  Gertrude  Dean  flung  herself 
at  the  feet  of  Sanford  Ray,  wrenched  free  her  hand, 
and  with  convulsive  violence  clasped  his  knees. 
"Have  you  nothing?"  she  cried — "not  even  your 
knife  ?" 

4 'My  knife,  yes!  but — against  all  that  gang?"  he 
answered  vaguely. 

"Oh,  can't  you — understand  ?"  she  moaned.  "Mrs. 
Blake  told  me — your  regiment — never  let  a  woman 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  Isn't  this  as — • 
as  horrible  ?  Oh,  you  will  not !  You  shall  not !" 

And  then  he  understood,  for  she  was  clutching 
desperately  at  the  knife  at  his  belt. 

"They  shan't  have  you,  Gertrude !  Quick,  dive  in 
there  again!"  Then  voices  sounded  close  at  hand. 
Someone  was  landing  at  the  very  bank,  and  Ray 
almost  thrust  her  to  the  narrow  entrance,  her  hands 
clinging  to  his,  as  he  bent  low  and  followed,  then 
drew  the  leafy  branches  down  about  the  opening. 
There  like  hunted  hare  they  crouched,  both  her  hands 
now  clasping  his  left  arm,  her  head  almost  drooping 
upon  his  knee,  and  with  hearts  wildly  throbbing  they 
listened  breathless  for  the  next  words.  There  were 
sounds  of  crashing  through  bamboo  and  brake,  of 
muttered  imprecation,  of  booted  feet  on  dry,  snap- 


lieutenant  SanOp  IRap         271 

ping  twigs — a  sound  at  which  Raj  started  and  looked 
bewildered.  Then,  hurried  stir  and  search  along  the 
little  harbor  basin,  where  the  banca  had  floated  so 
securely,  and  then,  in  answer  to  sudden  and  savage 
question  from  the  stream  bank,  the  amazing  answer : 

" Yes,  been  here  and  gone!  That  damned  slut  by 
this  time  has  steered  them  up  to  Prince's  camp." 

"C'mawn  then,  curse  you!  We've  no  time  to 
lose!" 

A  moment  later  the  banca  had  shoved  off  and  gone. 
Still  another  moment  and  with  her  fair  head  pil 
lowed  in  her  arms,  her  arms  on  Sandy's  knee,  Ger 
trude  Dean  was  pouring  out  her  soul  in  sobs  and 
thanksgiving,  while  he  in  wonderment  and  amaze, 
bent  speechless  over  her.  That  last,  beyond  all  man 
ner  of  doubt,  was  the  voice  of  "Hasty"  Walker. 


272         Lieutenant  §>anDp  map 


CHAPTEE  XXIII. 

AND  then,  in  the  hour  that  followed,  when  she  had 
measurably  regained  composure,  little  by  little  Sandy 
drew  from  Gertrude  Dean  the  story  of  the  brief,  but 
never-to-be-forgotten  period  in  which  she  had  known 
and  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  erstwhile  popular 
and  applaiided  hero  of  the  Forty-Second.  Harry,  her 
beloved  brother,  had  been  at  Manila  on  business  for 
her  father  during  the  short  sojourn  there  of  the 
newly  arrived  regiment.  Harry  was  an  enthusiast 
from  boyhood  in  baseball  and  kindred  sports.  Harry, 
like  almost  everybody  else,  had  lost  his  head  in  ad 
miration  of  the  brilliant  play  of  the  Forty-Second's 
field  captain — had  lavished  attentions  on  him  while 
the  two  were  together  in  the  old  Spanish  city,  and 
enthusiastically  welcomed  him  when  the  battalion 
came  to  Camp  Boutelle.  Harry  was  too  proud  to 
visit  the  garrison  where  his  father  was  ostracised,  and 
therefore  begged  Walker  to  come  frequently  to  San 
Sulpicio,  where  everything  he  had  wrould  ever  be  at 
Walker's  disposal,  and  Walker  came  and  practically 
helped  himself,  and  at  first  was  more  than  welcome. 
He  won  the  father's  instant  allegiance  by  professing 
sympathy  with  him  and  enmity  to  his  detractors — 


JUeittenant  §>anDp  Kap         273 

Blake  and  the  officers  of  the  cavalry.  He  won  the 
mother's  interest  by  precisely  the  same  means.  He 
had  won  Harry's  fealty  by  his  prowess  in  the  ball 
field,  and  now,  to  make  a  long  story  short,  he  won 
Harry's  money,  then — heaven,  how  the  poor  child 
sobbed  as  she  told  it ! — the  money  that  was  not  Har 
ry's,  by  his  prowess  in  still  other  games.  But  there  was 
one  thing  he  could  not  win,  and  that  had  stood  out 
stanchly  against  him  from  the  very  first — that  was 
Harry's  sister's  trust.  She  shrank  from  him  in 
stinctively.  She  repelled  his  bold,  "Bowery,"  confi 
dent  advances,  and  the  more  he  sought,  the  more  she 
shrank.  A  week  before  the  sudden  swoop  of  the  la- 
drones  on  San  Sulpicio  and  the  looting  of  the  cus 
toms,  she  knew  that  money  had  been  transferred  from 
Harry's  safe  to  Walker's  hands,  knew  that  Harry 
was  in  that  fellow's  power,  and  dare  not  openly  offend 
him  until — until  Walker  dared  to — say  something 
to  her — something  that  no  girl — no  girl,  she  said  in 
her  innocence,  would  tolerate  for  an  instant.  Then 
she  had  blazed  out  at  him,  told  him  he  had  ruined  her 
brother,  but  that  she  scorned  and  defied  him.  It 
j  seemed  to  scare  him  back  to  his  senses  for  a  time.  He 
came  and  humbly  begged  her  pardon — besought  her, 
for  Harry's  sake,  not  to  make  a  scene,  not  to  betray 
him.  He  promised  restitution  to  Harry.  His  own 
needs  were  great  and  imminent  and  pressing.  Cred 
itors  had  threatened  to  expose  him  and  his  methods. 
He  had  had  to  "borrow,"  as  he  called  it,  this  money 


274         Lieutenant  SanDp  IRap 

from  Harry,  had  had  to  send  most  of  it  to  Manila, 
but  if  she  would  overlook  his — he  called  it  his  "fool 
ishness" — he  would  have  abundant  means  in  a  few 
days  and  make  all  right.  But  then  came  the  attack. 
Then  came  their  flight  to  Camp  Boutelle,  Harry's 
tragic  death,  her  mother's  prostration,  her  father's 
illness.  Then  came  the  admission  from  her  father 
that  experts  had  already  been  ordered  from  Manila 
to  inspect  his  books,  accounts  and  general  conduct. 
They  could  open  the  safe  that  the  ladrones  could  not 
make  way  with,  and  then  Harry's  heavy  shortage 
would  be  discovered,  his  name  disgraced  and  dishon 
ored  for  all  time.  It  was  to  implore  Mr.  Walker  to 
replace  the  missing  money  that  she  had  importuned 
him  while  at  Colonel  Blake's,  had  followed  him  to 
the  grove,  had  even  stolen  to  his  quarters  in  the  dusk 
of  evening,  not  once,  but  several  times,  in  hope  of 
seeing  him;  had  written  him  and  sent  the  note  by 
Paloma,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  all,  her  half-crazed 
father  had  told  her  he  must  get  away,  that  if  he  re 
mained  there  he  would  surely  be  arrested  and  thrown 
in  jail.  If  he  could  only  send  two  hundred  dollars 
to  the  Presidente  at  Sulpicio,  a  native  boat  would 
come  for  him,  take  him  out  to  sea  by  night,  set  him 
aboard  a  steamer  whose  captain  would  have  to  give 
him  refuge  and  get  him  over  to  Hong  Kong  or 
Shanghai,  and  still  Walker  failed  her  until,  in  des 
peration,  she  told  him  she  would  tell  the  whole  story 
to  Mrs.  Blake,  and  if  need  be  to  Captain  Crabtree, 


JUewenant  SanDg  Kag         275 

and  then  he  had  given  her,  he  said,  all  he  had,  and 
Paloma  had  given  her,  she  declared,  all  her  "sav 
ings/7  and  this  Paloma  had  sent  by  Hilario  to  the 
Presidente,  and  brought  back  word  that  the  boat  and 
crew  would  be  ready.  Then  she  had  planned  her 
father's  escape,  Paloma  aiding  wonderfully  (poor 
girl,  even  then  she  dare  not  tell  him  how  wonderfully, 
though,  the  two  sentries,  one  "doped,"  the  other 
bribed,  might  have  confessed),  and  Sandy  began  to 
realize  how,  at  his  expense,  Paloma  had  made  sure  of 
some  of  her  "savings,"  and  how,  at  the  sentry's  ex 
pense,  Dean  had  made  his  escape.  Gertrude  had 
gone  in  relief  and  joy  to  tell  her  mother  to  rest  in 
peace,  that  that  very  night  the  Formosa  would  be 
spiriting  the  husband  and  father  away  to  safety  and 
Shanghai,  for  it  was  part  of  Dean's  plan  to  have  the 
captain  place  him  on  the  first  China-bound  steamer 
they  should  see.  And  then  had  come  the  appalling 
news  that,  after  all,  there  must  have  been  some 
treachery — that  her  father  had  not  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  steamer.  Then  came  the  tidings  of  his 
desperate  illness  down  the  coast  below  Sulpicio,  and 
her  summons  to  his  side,  and  Ray  knew  most  of  the 
rest,  she  said,  and  shrank  from  telling  it. 

But  Ray  had  heard  enough  to  make  him  wish  to 
hear  all,  and  gently  he  persisted  and  questioned.  He 
believed  he  knew  now  who  had  been  ransacking  his 
desk.  He  felt  sure  he  knew  now  who  had  made  way 
•with  the  mess  money,  and  other  missing  funds,  while 


276         Lieutenant  San  Dp 

Aunt  Dannie's  "rainy  day"  savings  were  as  easily 
accounted  for.  He  had  disliked  the  man  Walker 
from  the  start,  and  now,  now  his  soul  was  up  in  arms 
to  meet  him  on  fair  field,  and  tell  him  what  manner 
of  scoundrel  he  thought  him,  and  then  to  have  it  out  I 
with  him,  old  army  fashion,  with  fire-spitting  Colt 
or  flashing  blade.  He  was  beginning,  too,  to  see 
through  the  cause  of  her  intense  agitation  when  she 
came  running  back  to  the  boat  after  their  first  land 
ing,  and  her  unsuccessful  quest  for  her  father.  He 
desired  to  know — he  needed — he  craved  to  know — • 
whether  Walker  was  there,  renegade  and  deserter, 
consorting  with  brown  robbers  and  white  smugglers, 
and  firmly  at  last  he  demanded  answer.  With  bowed 
head  and  shamed,  flushed  cheeks,  she  owned  that  he 
was  there,  that  he  had  had  much — most — to  do  with 
luring  her  thither,  that  he  had  met  her,  had  striven 
to  place  her  in  his  own  banca,  with  the  promise  to 
take  her  at  once  to  her  father's  side — her  father  who 
was  indeed  not  far  distant,  but  in  no  such  bodily  ill 
as  had  been  told  her.  Paloma  had  found  that  out  for 
her  already.  Paloma,  through  her  native  lover,  had 
ascertained  just  where  Dean  was  in  hiding,  and 
thither  had  been  their  pilot;  but  Walker's  fellows 
were  there,  too,  first,  and  had  dealt  the  blow  that  had 
felled  her  young  knight  and  escort,  and  then — she 
would  not  tell  the  rest — how  her  father  was  even 
then  spirited  away  to  sea,  leaving  her  to  be  dealt  with 
as  Walker  had  planned,  had  not  Paloma's  vigilance 


Lieutenant  SanDp  JRap         2rr 

and  energy  again  enabled  her  to  escape  and  to  bring 
Kay  with  them.  How  could  she  now  believe  that 
Paloma  had  willingly  deserted  her  ?  There  was  only 
one  way  to  account  for  it.  Some  of  her  tribesmen 
were  of  the  ladroue  gang,  and  they  had  threatened 
her  life  and  that  of  her  lover.  She  had  fled,  over  per 
suaded,  perhaps,  and  in  dread  of  their  vengeance. 

All  this  in  the  course  of  the  morning  hours — af 
ter  he  had  provided  her  with  food,  and  some  choco 
late  heated  over  a  tiny  fire — Ray  succeeded  in  win- 
ning  from  her  faltering  lips.  All  this  from  the  girl 
whom  he  had  suspected  of  thieving,  and  believed  to 
be  that  blackguard  Walker's  willing  victim.  All  this 
from  the  girl  whose  brains  and  bravery  had  rescued 
him  from  the  hands  of  a  gang  of  miscreants,  who 
might  either  hold  him  for  ransom  or  heave  his  bat 
tered  body,  stone- weigh  ted,  into  the  depths  of  the 
lagoon.  All  this  from  a  girl  whose  devotion  to  her 
old  reprobate  of  a  father,  to  her  broken-spirited 
mother,  to  the  memory  of  that  beloved,  betrayed  and 
murdered  brother,  should  have  commanded  his  utter 
most  respect  and  homage.  All  this  from  the  girl 
who  crouched  there  under  the  spreading  branches  of 
the  tropic  forest,  sometimes  with  tears  welling  from 
her  beautiful  eyes,  sometimes  with  flushes  burning 
on  her  soft,  wan  cheek,  and  Sandy  Ray,  in  self-re 
proach  and  humiliation  unspeakable,  knelt  beside  her, 
ready  almost  to  worship,  yet  not  daring  to  confess 
his  guilt,  for  guilt  he  now  regarded  it. 


$78         Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

He  had  set  forth  on  this  expedition  of  possible 
peril  because  Aunt  Nannie  would  so  have  it,  as  the 
escort  and  protector  of  a  girl  whose  honor  he  doubted 
and  whose  honesty  he  denied,  and  within  the  com 
pass  of  a  second  noontide  had  seen  his  doubts  and 
denials,  one  after  another,  set  to  shame  and  confusion, 
and  himself  to  remorse  unspeakable.  She  was  all 
that  Aunt  Nannie  had  said  of  her,  and  more.  She 
was  nothing  he  had  dared  to  say  to  his  sacred  self. 
She  was,  more  than  any  girl  he  had  ever  met,  or 
known,  or  heard  of,  brave,  beautiful,  dutiful  and  de 
voted — a  daughter  who  served  and  honored,  as  her 
God  had  commanded,  even  where  she  could  not  re 
spect — a  sister  who  had  loved  and  well  nigh  sacri 
ficed  her  good  name  in  the  effort  to  protect — a  woman 
ennobled  by  sorrow,  suffering  and  peril.  Oh,  what 
was  he  that  he  dared  to  doubt  her?  Who  was  he 
that  he  had  presumed  to  question  ?  In  utter  humility 
he  could  have  bowed  his  head  to  the  dust  and  kissed 
the  worn  shoe  that  so  scantily  covered  her  slender 
foot  But  he  dare  not  touch  hand  or  lip  even  to  the 
sole  of  that  foot,  the  hem  of  that  still  wet  and  bedrag 
gled  garment.  He  prayed  heaven  she  might  never 
dream  how  he  had  wronged  her,  and  now,  if  he  could 
but  die  in  her  defense,  it  would  be  just  reparation. 
As  has  been  said,  Sandy  was  still  something  of  a  boy. 

And  even  as  they  hovered  there,  deep  in  the  thicket 
.and  at  the  foot  of  the  far-spreading  trees,  there  came 
again  sudden  sound  that  set  his  nerves  a-tingle  and 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Kap         279 

sent  her,  at  his  instant  order,  creeping  on  hands  and 
knees  beneath  the  canopy  of  her  little  rustic  castle. 
.Yoices,  excited  voices,  stealthy  and  half  suppressed, 
were  again  audible  up  stream ;  then  straining  paddle, 
the  rush  of  waters  cleft  by  sharp  and  speeding  prow ; 
then  answering  calls  from  shore.  Not  one,  but  sev 
eral  bancas  were  speeding  down  the  shadowy  flood. 
]STot  one,  but  several  parties,  apparently,  were  scur 
rying  down  the  parallel  tracks,  for  across  the  stream 
hail  answered  hail,  and  some  were  cries  of  warning. 
Gertrude,  listening  with  dilated  eyes,  sat  quivering 
with  excitement,  one  hand  outstretched  toward  Ray, 
who  knelt  at  the  entrance,  one  finger  pressed  upon  her 
lips. 

"They  are  saying  'soldiers' !"  she  murmured,, 
almost  breathless.  " Soldiers  both  ways !" 

"Hurrah!"  was  the  joyful  answer,  muttered  low, 
"I  knew  the  colonel  would  be  sending,  and  I  s'pose 
Prince,  up  river  somewhere,  has  got  word." 

Again  the  signals  from  shore  to  shore,  and  voices 
from  the  bancas,  Tagalog  and  Ilocano  both,  and 
sounds  of  scurry  through  the  brake  and  bamboo,  of 
splashing  through  the  brook  above  them,  of  swift  ply 
ing  paddles  along  the  broad  bosom  of  the  stream. 
Two,  three  bancas  darted  by  and  went  unswerving  on 
toward  the  wooded  point  below.  Then  rallying  cries 
as  though  the  warriors  by  land  were  halted  for  coun 
sel  or  defense,  and  summoning  their  fellows  of  the 
flotilla.  Sandy  judged  that  they  must  be  landing  and 


280         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

gathering  some  four  hundred  yards  down  stream,  and 
others  still,  laggards,  stragglers,  or  possibly  rear 
guard,  were  coming  from  the  southeast — coming 
from  the  direction  of  the  hills  and  the  Dagupan  trail, 
and  Paloma's  lover's  village — the  direction  of  the 
scene  of  Blunt's  sharp  encounter  of  the  week  gone 
by — the  direction  in  which  by  this  time  Prince  should 
be,  and  Walker  should  have  gone.  Not  only  by  trail 
were  these  unseen  stragglers  coming,  but  by  stream; 
for  again  voices — voices  raised  in  excitement — could 
be  heard  rounding  that  upper  point — voices  that  pres 
ently  became  articulate  and  familiar,  for  now,  too, 
Sandy  was  quivering  from  head  to  foot;  for  now, 
too,  Sandy  could  understand.  There  was  no  mistak 
ing  the  vernacular,  as  with  powerful  sweep  of  pad 
dles  the  coming  craft  shot  along  under  the  overhang 
ing  branches,  nearer  and  nearer  with  every  second. 

"Land  right  in  there  where  we  hunted  last  night — 
this  morning.  It's  the  best " 

"Land  nothing,  by  God !  We  land  where  the  oth 
ers  are — where  we  can  stand  off  those  sons  of  skunks 
from  Boutelle,  that  damned  cockney  with  'em !" 

"Not  for  me  you  don't!  Catch  me  running  my 
neck  into  a  noose  like  that.  You  land  here  where  I 
say.  I've  got  to  hunt  a  hole,  I  tell  you !"  And  Kay's 
heart  nearly  burst  from  his  breast  as  he  heard 
Walker's  craven  words.  No  wonder  he  dare  not  be 
seen  of  his  former  fellows ! 

"Your  neck's  in  a  noose  anyhow  you  fix  it,  you 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Jftap         231 

whelp!"  was  the  furious  answer.  "And  a  hell  of  a 
fix  you've  got  us  into  in  your  fool  hunt  for  a  girl. 
Here's  Prince,  not  three  miles  behind  us,  coming  for 
all  he's  worth,  and  your  cockney  friend  shoving  up 
from  the  sea,  and  nothing  but  tangle  on  both  sides 

of  us " 

"Shut  up!  Listen!"  came  Walker's  voice  again. 
No  need  to  listen.  Far  away  down  the  twisting 
river,  sharp,  clear,  ringing,  came  the  crackle  and 
crash  of  musketry,  the  snappy  bark  of  the  "Krag," 
the  music  that  told  to  eager  and  rejoicing  ears,  to 
guilty  and  tottering  senses,  that  the  soldier  had  not 
been  slow  to  come  in  search  for  the  missing  com 
rade — that  the  "blue-shirt  boys"  from  camp  had 
spurned  the  intervening  score  of  miles,  rafted  the  la 
goon  and,  plunging  into  the  canebrake,  following 
some  unerring  guide,  had  struck  the  outpost  of  the 
lurking  enemy  and,  in  spite  of  him,  were  crashing  on 
to  the  rescue. 


282         JLieutenant  SanDp  Hap 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FOE  a  moment  the  two  crouched  there,  the  gin 
trembling  with  excitement,  the  young  soldier  speed 
ily  gaining  control  over  his  nerves,  both  listening 
eagerly,  intently.  A  sputtering  fire  of  Mauser  and 
Remington  had  opposed  for  a  moment  the  sharp 
crackle  of  "Krags."  Then  could  be  heard  the  deep- 
lunged,  exultant  cheer  of  the  men  of  the  Forty-Sec 
ond,  rejoicing  in  their  first  clash  with  the  bandit  gang, 
and  rushing  impetuously  on  in  pursuit  of  the  thin 
veil  of  skirmishers,  thrown  out  apparently  to  check 
the  onset  long  enough  to  enable  the  main  body  to  de 
ploy  through  the  underbrush,  and  find  shelter  among 
the  trees.  Then  it  would  seem  as  though  the  attack 
ing  line  had  found  the  brake  too  dense  a  tangle,  for 
the  bugle  sounded  halt,  answered  by  mocking  and 
derisive  yells  and  loud  peals  on  the  Spanish  made 
clarions  of  the  ladrones.  But  the  halt  was  meant  . 
only  for  those  men  who,  following  pathways  or  open 
ings,  had  got  far  in  advance  of  their  comrades.  Any 
level-headed  commander  knew  what  that  might  result 
in  when  they  struck  the  fighting  line.  Then  the  spir 
ited  fusillade  broke  out  afresh  and,  straining  his  ears,. 


JLieutenant  San  Dp  Kag         233 

Kay  could  tell  that  the  crew  of  the  landed  banca,  the 
two  white  men  among  their  passengers,  and  some 
dark-skinned  native  official  were  having  a  vehement 
discussion — Walker's  unknown  associate  vociferating 
in  Spanish  and  this  personage  gabbling  alternately 
in  Tagalog  to  his  followers  and  in  "pidgin' '  English 
to  the  whites.  Walker,  too,  was  exploding  vocally, 
upbraiding  and  damning  in  equal  parts,  but  for  a 
moment  Kay  could  not  tell  what  the  clatter  was  about. 
Then  came  sudden  explanation.  Like  the  crack  of  a 
whip  "spat"  went  a  steel- jacketed  shot  through  the 
roof  of  their  shelter,  barely  a  foot  above  Gertrude's 
bared  and  bonny  head.  Another  instant,  and  Kay 
had  sprung  to  her  side,  interposing  between  her  and 
the  mile  distant  firing  line,  and  with  hands  that 
trembled  at  their  very  task,  yet  would  brook  no  de 
nial,  he  seized  her  by  the  shoulders  and  bore  her 
backward  to  her  pillow.  "Lie  close,"  he  murmured, 
"and  don't  move." 

"Bullet  ?"  she  asked,  gazing  fearfully  upward,  as  a 
leaf  came  fluttering  down. 

"Bullet,"  he  answered,  calmly  stretching  himself 
beside  her,  leaning  his  head  on  his  left  hand,  yet  anx 
iously,  protectingly  striving  to  spread  himself  like 
mother  hen.  "Those  Krags  shoot  out  of  sight.  We've 
got  to  hug  the  ground  till  it's  over." 

"And  that's  what  they  are  squabbling  about,"  said 
she.  "One  bullet  has  struck  their  boat.  The  crew 
want  to  run,  and  can't  be  made  to  understand  they'll 


284         Lieutenant  ©an Dp  Rag 

run  right  into  other  soldiers  coming  down  the  river. 
You — you  must  lie  down,  Mr.  Ray." 

But  the  sudden  spatter  of  half  a  dozen  shots  in  the 
thick  bamboo  about  them,  the  almost  simultaneous 
crash  of  a  distant  volley,  followed  by  a  rousing  cheer, 
stilled  her  voice  and  settled  the  question  under  dis 
cussion  at  the  bank.  They  could  hear  excited  jab 
bering,  curses,  imprecations,  the  plash  of  paddles  and 
then,  hard  breathing,  two  men,  unseen  but  swearing, 
threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  just  beyond  the 
back  of  the  shelter  and  presumably  behind  covering 
trees.  Ray  signalled  hush.  She  looked  bravely  up 
into  his  face,  assenting,  then  suddenly,  in  turn,  put 
both  her  hands  upon  his  shoulder  and  with  determina 
tion  bore  down  upon  it,  forcing  him  to  earth  and 
close  beside  her.  He  longed  to  seize  that  hand  and 
cover  it  with  kisses.  He  could  only  thank  her  with 
a  smile,  for  there  came  sudden  change  of  tune  at  the 
fighting  front.  All  in  a  moment  the  sullen  silence  of 
the  defense  was  broken.  In  a  spirited,  trilling  call, 
unlike  any  known  to  our  service,  the  Filipino  bugle 
rang  out  upon  the  sultry  air  and  at  the  last  note  a 
crashing  volley,  treble  in  volume  to  that  of  the  Yan- 
•  kee  advance,  rolled  out  through  the  dense  timber,  fol 
lowed  by  a  chorus  of  yells  of  defiance  and  the  fierce 
sputter  of  swift  and  deadly  fire  at  close  range.  What 
ever  their  temporary  success  there  could  be  no  ques 
tion  what  that  meant  to  the  would-be  rescuers,  to  the 
gallant  onset  of  the  American  line.  It  had  stumbled,, 


JLieutenant  8>anDg  Bap         235 

or  been  led,  into  a  fatal  trap.  It  was  encompassed 
now  in  front  and  flank  by  a  concentric  fire  from  thrice 
its  number  of  unseen  foes.  "My  God!"  cried  Kay, 
between  his  clinching  teeth.  "I've  been  dreading  just 
that!  Those  fellows  have  had  no  Indian  campaign 
ing  or  they'd  never  have  got  into  such  a  box." 

But  the  sound  of  changeful  battle  that  brought 
dread  and  dismay  to  these  two  young  refugees,  had 
far  different  effect  beyond  the  leafy  screen  that  hid 
them  from  the  lurking  pair  of  renegades.  To  the 
unspeakable  wrath  of  Sandy  Ray,  as  the  exultant 
cheering  gave  place  to  silence,  broken  only  by  the 
occasional  yell  of  some  half  savage  native  and  the 
fierce  sputter  of  rifle  shots — a  silence  that  told  un 
erringly  that  now  the  Americans  were  fighting 
grimly,  desperately  over  their  dead  and  wounded — 
the  voices  of  Walker  and  his  comrade  in  crime  were 
uplifted  in  excited,  exultant  comment. 

"By  God,  I  believe  they've  got  old  Crab  in  a 
pocket !"  shouted  the  well-known  and  destested  voice. 
"Right  you  are !"  went  up  the  responsive  shout.  "I 
thought  sure  he'd  burst  through  and  be  up  here  in  ten 
minutes,  but  Tonio's  holding  'em  if  he  isn't  cleaning 
'em  out." 

"Curse  those  cowardly  brutes  in  the  banca !"  This 
again  from  Walker.  "Most  of  the  Mauser  cart 
ridges  are  there,  and  at  this  rate  Tonio  may  need 
them." 

"Then  I've  got  to  call  them  back,"  was  the  answer. 


286         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Rap 

"They  can't  have  gone  beyond  that  next  point.  They 
can't  go  more  than  a  mile  or  two  without  running 
slap  into  Prince,"  and  with  that  the  speaker  could  be 
heard  forcing  a  pathway  through  the  brush  and  bam- 
boo.  Then  Walker  was  left  alone. 

Ray's  eyes  were  blazing.  To  think  of  a  man  wear 
ing  the  uniform  of  an  officer  of  the  regular  service 
consorting  with  smugglers,  robbers,  insurrectos  and 
ladrones,  rejoicing  in  their  success,  applauding  the 
discomfiture  and  possible  defeat  of  his  own  regimen 
tal  comrades,  a  traitor  to  his  country  and  to  his  flag ! 
Ray's  blood  was  boiling  in  his  veins.  The  stubborn 
fighting  still  went  on;  the  rattling  of  rifle  fire  was 
incessant.  Encompassed  though  he  probably  was, 
"Crab"  was  battling  like  the  Briton  of  old,  and  his 
men  were  aiming  low  and  shooting  vengefully.  The 
bullets  no  longer  came  screaming  overhead  or  slash 
ing  through  the  thicket.  Gertrude  now  was  in  no 
especial  danger  from  that  source.  The  chief  menace 
to  her  peace,  honor  and  safety  was  crouching  there  on 
the  other  side  of  that  dense  screen  of  underbrush,  and 
was  crouching  there  alone.  Ray's  hand  crept  to  the 
hilt  of  his  knife,  and,  feet  foremost,  he  started  to 
wriggle  to  the  entrance. 

But  Gertrude  Dean  read  the  purpose  in  his  face, 
and  in  an  instant  had  sprung  from  her  pillow,  and 
her  slender  hands  had  seized  him,  clinging  fast  to 
arm  and  shoulder.  "Xo,  no !"  she  whispered.  "You 
must  not!  You  shall  not!  He  has  his  pistol;  you 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Kap 

have  nothing!"  Then  as  his  sj -ength  prevailed 
against  her  gentler  hold,  and  he  seemed  escaping  her, 
she  threw  herself  upon  him,  her  right  arm  encircling 
his  neck,  her  soft  cheek,  pallid  with  dread  and  dis 
tress,  almost  bent  to  his  brow,  his  curly  head  for  a 
moment,  at  least,  pressed  to  her  heaving  bosom.  And 
still  he  would  have  burst  his  sweet  fetters,  but  her 
every  sense  was  on  the  alert.  "Stop!  Listen!"  she 
panted.  "They're  coming !"  And  coming  they  were, 
two  or  three  light  and  eager  forms,  slipping  like  ser 
pents  through  the  intricacies  of  the  thicket,  their 
bared  feet  making  scarce  a  sound  upon  the  sandy 
ground,  their  excited  voices  alone  betraying  them. 
Crouching  again,  rooted  to  the  spot,  her  arm  still 
about  his  neck,  her  heart  still  bounding  close  to  his 
ears,  the  two  held  their  breath  and  listened.  They 
heard  the  runners  plunge  into  the  pool  and  scramble 
dripping  up  the  bank;  heard  them  rush,  unheeding, 
past  the  entrance  to  their  little  bower;  heard  them 
now  forcing  a  way  through  the  thicket  to  the  river  and 
then,  almost  stumbling  over  Walker  as  he  heaved 
himself  up  from  behind  a  sheltering  tree.  Then  Ray 
felt  her  fingers  on  his  lips,  compelling  him  to  utter 
silence,  that  she  might  listen  to  what  took  place.  He 
could  catch  but  few  words,  so  hard  were  they  breath 
ing  from  their  rapid  run,  but  she,  better  schooled  in 
the  dialect,  knew  their  wants  at  once,  and  exultingly 
translated:  "Ammunition.  They  are  nearly  out! 
Must  have  more  at  once,"  she  whispered,  eagerly. 


288         Lieutenant  Sandp  Bap 

"Banca  vamoosed/7  was  all  Walker  could  sputter  for 
reply.  "Todos  cobardes! — vamoosed!  mas  arriba!" 
and  his  mongrel  Spanish  and  wild  gesticulation  told 
their  story.  Two  of  the  searchers  went  bounding 
away  on  the  trail  of  the  unknown  American,  already 
half -sent  on  the  same  errand.  The  third  threw  him 
self  with  a  moan  of  misery  upon  the  ground.  "Shot  ?" 
they  heard  Walker  query.  "Yes!  Si"  "Where? 
Show  me,"  and  they  could  tell  that  he  was  bending 
over  the  stricken  man.  Ray  had  ceased  to  struggle, 
but  was  so  intent  on  what  was  taking  place  without, 
and  she  so  fearful  that  her  captive  might  resume  the 
effort,  that  Gertrude's  arm  still  clasped  about  his 
neck — was  still  clinging  in  its  unconscious  embrace, 
when  on  a  sudden  again,  both  young  heads  were  up 
lifted,  and  with  ears  attent  and  with  eyes  dilated, 
they  listened  eagerly  to  a  new  sound,  audible  even 
among  the  crash  of  musketry  below  them ;  then  turned 
and  gazed  in  triumph  and  rejoicing  into  each  other's 
face.  Somewhere  up  stream,  still  distant  but  still 
sure,  a  sharp  swift  crackle  told  that  the  coming  force 
had  sighted  foemen  on  the  river,  or  lurking  along  the 
shores,  and  the  slender,  steel-clad  messengers  of  death 
were  lightning  leaping  from  the  brown  tubes  in  chase 
of  them. 

And  Walker,  too,  had  heard,  and  was  quick  to  real 
ize  its  meaning:  Prince  coming  from  the  mountains; 
Crab  coming  from  the  sea,  and  he,  a  deserter,  a  rene 
gade,  a  thief,  was  caught  between  them  like  a  rat  in  a 


JLieutenant  §>anDg  Iftag         239 

trap,  escape  by  land  impracticable,  by  river  impossi 
ble! 

And  Crabtree's  fellows,  some  at  least,  some  fellows 
at  flank  or  rear,  and  undeaf  ened  by  the  frequent  shots 
about  them,  had  also  heard,  and  called  attention  to  it, 
for  presently  "Cease  firing!"  trilled  on  the  breeze, 
and  though  for  the  moment  the  encircling  foemen  in 
the  bamboo  redoubled  their  own  volleying,  that  in 
itself  gave  confirmation  to  the  story  and  did  not 
utterly  drown  the  more  distant  but  most  significant 
signal  of  comrades'  coming,  for  within  a  moment,  up 
to  the  skies  went  a  ringing  cheer  of  rejoicing  and  de 
fiance,  that  Sandy  Ray  almost  burst  his  thrilling 
bonds  in  mad  longing  to  answer.  Then  again  the 
Krags  took  up  the  burden  of  their  battle  song  and 
two  young  hearts,  throbbing  responsive  in  the  secur 
ity  of  their  leafy  fastness,  found  time  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  renewal  of  hope  and  courage,  to  return  part 
way  to  the  conventionalities  of  their  caste,  and  Ger 
trude's  arm  slowly  released  its  hold,  yet — sent  not 
forth  its  captive. 

And  now  the  native  force,  down  stream,  began  los 
ing  faith.  Many,  with  their  ammunition  gone,  were 
drifting  back  toward  the  river  in  search  of  means  of 
crossing.  Two  of  the  bancas,  that  had  gone  seaward 
in  the  early  morning,  could  be  heard  paddling,  un 
easily  and  hard,  seeking  some  intermediate  point  of 
refuge  up  the  river.  "Pray  heaven  they  don't  try 
this !"  thought  Ray,  as  he  glanced  at  Gertrude's  face, 


290         JLteittenant  SanDg  Hap 

again  paling  with  dread.  From  Walker  they  heard 
no  more  at  the  moment,  nor  from  the  wounded  native. 
The  latter  had  begged  for  water  and  Walker  seemed 
to  have  crept  over  to  the  bank  in  quest  of  it.  They 
could  hear  the  voices  of  men  along  the  shore,  shout 
ing  to  their  fellows  in  the  boats,  and  the  latter  an 
swering.  "The  bancas  are  crowded,"  whispered  Ger 
trude.  "They  are  trying  to  make  for  a  landing  on 
the  other  side,  a  little  further  up.  They  say  there's 
a  trail  through  the  swamp  over  there.  Some  of  them, 
will  have  to  swim."  They  could  hear  occasional 
shots  to  the  southeast,  still  over  a  mile  away,  but  it 
was  evident  that  Prince  had  found  the  trails  on  the 
left  bank  and  was  shoving  ahead,  driving  his  oppon 
ents  before  him.  Half  an  hour  would  bring  his  fore 
most  men  abreast  of  them  and  then,  then  the  strain, 
the  concealment  would  be  ended.  They  could  hear 
more  of  the  natives,  breaking  away  from  in  front  of 
Crabtree's  men,  flitting  through  the  bamboo  below, 
and,  both  above  and  below,  nocking  out  along  the 
bank  and  imploring  the  boatmen  to  aid.  It  could  not 
be  long  before  Crab's  fellows,  too,  would  be  coming 
on  again,  said  Ray,  looking  into  her  lovely  face,  then 
down  at  the  slender,  white  hand,  with  its  twitching 
fingers  clasping  and  unclasping  so  emptily  in  her 
lap.  He  longed  to  seize  it  once  again  and  hold  it 
tight.  It  seemed  so  to  need  it.  Then  came  more 
shouting,  more  imploring  prayers,  said  Gertrude,  for 
the  bancas,  unheeding,  were  even  now  paddling 


JLieutenant  §>anDp  Hap         291 

under  the  trees  directly  opposite,  and  some  poor 
wretches  who  dare  no  longer  face  the  coming  fire, 
seemed  taking  to  the  water  in  hopes  of  swimming 
across.  And  then  at  last  from  below  went  up  a 
mighty  shout,  and  "Forward !"  pealed  from  the  bugle, 
and  with  a  rush  that  could  be  heard  a  mile  away, 
what  was  left  of  Crabtree's  fighting  line  came  forg 
ing  through  the  brake,  with  the  last  of  its  opposers 
brushing  away  like  flies  before  it. 

Again  would  Ray  have  scrambled  to  the  light,  in 
all  his  eagerness  to  greet  the  coming  array,  but  again 
she  seized  and  clung  to  him.  "It's  madness!"  she 
cried.  "You  will  simply  be  shot  down  and  butchered 
by  these  ladrones.  Can't  you  hear  them  ?" 

Indeed  he  could,  on  every  side,  scrambling  like 
mad  for  shelter,  shouting  to  the  vanishing  bancas, 
screeching  warning  to  one  another,  and,  in  the  midst 
of  it  all,  came  strange,  sudden,  startling  interruption ! 
All  in  an  instant  heavy  booted  footfalls  crashed 
through  the  thicket  to  their  left,  and  a  second  later, 
with  the  lunge  of  a  hunted  beast  a  dark  form  dove 
into  the  narrow  aperture,  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
a  man  came  scraping  through,  and  a  burly  form 
hurdled  into  their  midst.  Before  the  intruder  could 
realize  where  he  was — before  he  could  fairly  see, 
Ray,  with  a  low  cry,  had  flung  himself  upon  him,  his 
knife  at  the  brawny  throat. 

"Walker,  you  blackguard!  you  villain!  You're 
my  prisoner!" 


292         Lieutenant  §>anDp  Bap 

Of  the  minute  that  followed  Gertrude  Dean  could 
never  thereafter  give  clear  account — a  moment  of 
furious  struggling,  of  fierce  imprecation,  of  gasping, 
rending,  straining  melee  in  which  the  little  shelter 
was  torn  asunder  and  she  was  trampled  under  foot, 
and  two  agile  forms,  one  slender,  sinewy  and  lithe, 
the  other  massive,  muscular  and  all  powerful,  flung 
reeling  out  into  the  open,  locked  in  each  other's 
grasp.  And  then  one  brutal  arm  swung  free,  and  a 
heavy  revolver  butt  came  crashing  down — again, 
again — and  blood  was  spouting  from  the  dark,  curly, 
drooping  head  as  the  lighter  form  went  limply  to 
earth,  and  then  her  senses  fled  and  left  her  swooning 
on  the  sand. 

When  she  came  to,  Paloma  was  sobbing  at  her  side, 
drenching  her  face  with  water.  Rough  men  in  drab 
campaign  hats  and  khaki  were  crowding  about  her 
and  other  prostrate  forms,  and  Dr.  Scammon  was 
kneeling  beside  a  stricken  officer  who,  half  supported 
by  a  brace  of  soldiers,  pallid,  bleeding,  sorely 
wounded,  was  nevertheless  looking  up  into  the  face 
of  a  panting,  blood-covered,  burly  subaltern  and 
stretching  forth  a  feeble  hand  as  he  painfully  gasped : 

"Mr.  Walker,  I  owe  you  an  amende,  sir.  I — er — 
have  misjudged  you,  entirely!  Your — er — splendid 
conduct  to-day  shall  be  the  subject  of  the  special  re 
port,  sir,  of  your — er — your  commahnding  officer." 


Jlieutenant  @>anDp  map         293 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  colonel  commanding  the  — d  Cavalry  and  the 
picturesque  military  station  of  Camp  Boutelle  sat 
poring  over  certain  official  reports,  an  elongated  pic 
ture  of  perplexity.  To  begin  with,  and  in  order  of 
rank  of  the  writers,  there  was  this : 

Bivouac  Company  "A,"  42nd  U.  S.  Inf. 
Near  Balaoag,  P.  I. 

November  — ,  190 — . 
Post  Adjutant, 

Camp  Boutelle: — 

Sir : — In  compliance  with  post  order  No.  79,  dated 
November  — ,  190 — ,  and  the  verbal  instructions  of 
the  post  commander,  I  proceeded  with  one  subaltern 
and  46  enlisted  men  of  this  company,  accompanied 
by  Surgeon  Scammon  and  two  hospital  corps  men, 
with  three  days'  cooked  rations  in  the  haversacks, 
marching  to  San  Sulpicio  between  7  p.  m.  and  mid 
night  of  the  — th,  resting  on  the  beach  until  4  a.  m., 
when,  after  making  coffee,  the  command  was  em 
barked  in  such  native  boats  as  I  could  hire  or  im 
press,  and  setting  forth  at  dawn,  we  reached  the  vil 
lage  of  Bato,  on  the  lagoon,  at  9  :30.  The  inhabitants 


294         Lieutenant  §>anDg  Bap 

denied,  as  had  the  Presidente  at  San  Sulpicio,  all 
knowledge  of  the  whereabouts  of  Mr.  Dean,  and  de 
clared  that  nothing  had  been  seen  of  Miss  Dean  and 
Lieutenant  Ray.  While  searching  the  village,  how 
ever,  my  men  found  Lieutenant  Ray's  campaign  hat 
and  his  silk  handkerchief  stiff  with  blood,  and  with 
this  evidence  before  me  I  felt  warranted  in  taking 
more  strenuous  measures  toward  obtaining  the  truth. 
The  head  men  of  the  village  were  away,  but,  con 
fronted  by  the  relics  we  had  found,  certain  others 
weakened,  admitted  that  Dean  had  been  detained 
there  a  day  or  two,  but  had  been  taken  out  to  sea  in  a 
coasting  vessel,  while  his  daughter  and  Lieutenant 
Ray  had  agone  up  the  river."  Sergeant  Prosser, 
scouting  the  east  bank,  came  upon  the  native  girl 
Paloma,  who  begged  that  we  should  come  at  speed, 
Miss  Dean  and  the  lieutenant  were  in  hiding  at  a 
point  some  nine  miles  away  and  in  desperate  danger 
from  the  Presidente's  friends,  the  ladrones  and 
"other  bad  men"  who  were  beating  the  bamboo  in. 
search  of  them.  Paloma  estimated  that  as  many  as 
three  hundred  insurrectos  or  banditti,  the  same  gang 
probably,  that  sacked  San  Sulpicio,  were  scouring 
the  trails  toward  the  mountains,  and  her  companion, 
a  Tagalog,  declared  that  Captain  Prince  had  already 
had  a  brush  with  them,  and  was  coming  down  the 
river  in  hopes  of  another. 

Ferrying  across  the  lagoon,  we  started  by  trail  at 
11  o'clock,  Paloma  and  Pedro  guiding.    About  1 :30, 


jUeutenant  @>anDg  Kap         295 

when  some  six  miles  out  and  marching  by  file,  as  the 
narrow,  crooked  trail  compelled,  we  were  fired  upon 
from  ambush.  Sergeant  Coon  was  mortally,  and 
Paloma  slightly,  wounded,  and  in  the  melee  that  fol 
lowed  two  men  were  hit.  Pushing  on  as  best  we 
could,  we  drove  them,  these  skulkers,  before  us,  re 
ceiving  occasional  shots  from  them,  and  at  two 
o'clock  were  suddenly  assailed  in  front  and  on  both 
flanks.  Sergeant  Fisher,  Corporal  Dixon  and  three 
men  fell  at  the  first  fire,  but  though  taken  at  disad 
vantage,  the  detachment  rallied  about  their  com 
manding  officer  and  fallen  comrades,  and  not  only 
succeeded  in  holding  the  enemy  at  bay  in  spite  of 
overpowering  force,  but  in  so  severely  punishing  him 
that  in  course  of  half  an  hour  his  fire  slackened  to 
such  an  extent  that  I  felt  justified  in  ordering  a 
charge,  which  was  executed  with  great  enthusiasm 
and  effect,  dislodging  the  enemy  from  a  strong  posi 
tion  and  driving  them  back  to  a  dense  thicket  of  bam 
boo.  Here  we  caught  the  sound  of  distant  firing  to 
the  southeast  which  seemed  further  to  affect  the 
enemy,  for  at  three  o'clock,  in  a  series  of  impetuous 
dashes,  we  succeeded  in  flanking  the  second  position, 
and  then,  rushing  the  enemy  with  hardly  a  halt  until, 
on  the  bank  of  the  riper,  many  threw  down  their 
arms  and  surrendered. 

Earlier  in  the  affair  Lieutenant  Meeker  had  been 
disabled  by  a  shot  through  the  left  foot,  and,  shortly 
before  reaching  the  south  fork,  known  as  the  Balli- 


296         Lieutenant  @anflg  Iftap 

wag  (Balaoag  ?)  my  first  sergeant,  Prosser,  was  shot 
through  the  shoulder,  and  I  got  a  bullet  through  the 
left  arm  just  as  I  found  myself  exhausted  from  loss 
of  blood  from  an  unnoticed  wound  received  earlier  in 
the  action.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  Lieutenant: 
Walker  joined ;  instantly  assumed  command  and  most 
gallantly  led  my  well-nigh  exhausted  men  in  the  final 
charge  that  resulted  in  the  rounding  up  of  so  many  on 
the  river  bank,  the  capture  of  three  native  canoes  and 
the  killing  or  capturing  of  their  occupants,  one  of  the 
dead  being  a  white  man  by  the  name  of  Monk,  known 
to  have  had  suspicious  dealings  with  the  smugglers  of 
the  seaside  villages.  Lieutenant  Walker's  coming 
was  most  opportune.  He  had  been  scouting  the 
neighborhood,  had  discovered  the  enemy  and  was  able 
to  lead  us  directly  upon  them,  inspiring  all  by  his 
reckless  dash  and  bravery. 

Our  coming  was  only  in  the  nick  of  time.     Miss 
Dean  was  found  unharmed,  though  unconscious,  but 
Lieutenant  Eay  had  been  brutally  beaten  about  the 
head  with  a  revolver  butt,  and  at  first  his  life  was 
despaired  of.    The  speedy  arrival  of  Captain  Prince's 
detachment,   driving  a  few  renegades  before  them, 
completed  the  victory,  the  result  of  which  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows :  The  Presidente,  two  head  men  * 
of  Bato,  the  white  man  Monk  and  thirteen  ladrones  ' 
killed,  and  twenty-two  wounded  and  prisoners. 

Our  loss  is  necessarily  severe.      Sergeants   Coon 
and  Fisher,  Privates    Horn,    Murphy    and    Ogden, 


JUeutenant  SanBg  Bap         297 

killed.  Lieutenant  Meeker,  myself,  Sergeants  Pres- 
ser  and  Speed,  Corporals  Flynn  and  Gorham  and  six 
privates  wounded.  Dr.  Scammon,  whose  services 
were  invaluable  and  who  looked  after  our  wounded 
under  heavy  fire,  pronounces  the  other  wounded  as  in  , 
no  especial  danger. 

In  closing  this  report  I  beg  leave  most  heartily  to 
commend  to  the  notice  of  the  colonel  commanding 
the  conduct  of  Surgeon  Scammon,  Lieutenant 
Walker,  Sergeant  Prosser  and  Corporal  Gorham,  who 
merit  every  honor  in  our  power  to  bestow. 
Very  respectfully, 

A.  M.  Paget-Crabtree, 

Captain  42nd  Inf.,  U.  S.  A., 
Commanding. 

Alas,  poor  Meeker,  shot  too  early  in  the  fight  to 
win  a  word  of  praise !  Alas,  poor  Sandy,  stricken 
down  and  out  too  effectually  to  permit  of  his  uttering 
a  word  of  protest!  Alas,  poor  deluded  Crab — and 
others ! 

But  here  is  what  Captain  Prince  had  to  say.  Let 
us  content  ourselves  with  official  extract. 

"The  trails  led  seaward,  probably  to  Bato,  as  Lieu 
tenant  Walker's  note  declared,  and  though  I  would/ 
not  have  permitted  him  to  go  unguarded  on  so 
hazardous  a  quest,  with  only  a  brace  of  native  guides, 
I  was  glad  to  have  even  the  small  reinforcement  he 
left  me,  and  could  only  follow  his  lead.  Toward  noon 


298         Lieutenant  ^anftp  Bag 

we  caught  sight  of  two  bancas  on  the  stream,  and, 
while  making  disposition  to  capture  them,  were  fired 
upon  from  three  different  points  in  the  bamboo,  and 
during  the  resultant  skirmish  the  bancas  turned 
about  and  fled.  Following  steadily  and  driving  the 
elusive  enemy  before  us,  we  heard  toward  three 
o'clock  the  sound  of  distant  volleying.  At  3 :30  we 
were  actively  engaged  with  small  parties  of  the  enemy 
in  our  front,  who  kept  up  an  annoying  though  in 
effective  fire.  By  four  o'clock,  however,  we  came  in 
view  of  the  disabled  bancas  on  the  stream  and  pres 
ently  encountered  the  pickets  thrown  out  from  Cap 
tain  Crabtree's  detachment,  Lieutenant  Walker  him 
self  meeting  and  conducting  us  to  the  bivouac  on  the 
scene  of  their  final  charge.  He  was  eager  to  pursue, 
saying  that  at  least  one  hundred  escaped  across  the 
stream  and  away  to  the  northeast,  but  I  declined,  as 
our  men  were  greatly  fatigued.  Many  of  Captain 
Crabtree's  were  severely  wounded,  and  the  condition 
of  Lieutenant  Ray  was  so  grave  that  Dr.  Scammon 
considered  it  necessary  to  send  him,  with  Captain 
Crabtree  and  Lieutenant  Meeker,  by  banca  to  Bato 
and  thence  to  Camp  Boutelle.  We  follow  by  slow 
stages." 

No  wonder  the  colonel  looked  the  picture  of  per 
plexity!  Here  were  two  energetic,  soldierly  cap 
tains,  neither  of  whom  was  a  friend  of  Walker,  both 
of  whom  had  explicitly  disapproved  of  him,  and  now, 
both  of  whom  found  it  their  duty  to  commend  in  the 


JUeutenant  §>anDg  Eap         299 

highest  terms  his  bravery,  leadership  and  zeal.  The 
penciled  reports  from  the  field  (poor  Crab  had 
fainted  twice  before  he  could  sign  his)  preceded  only; 
a  day  the  coming  of  the  wounded  and  a  third  of  the 
combined  detachment.  Prince  and  Walker  remained 
with  the  little  command  on  the  river,  but  Crabtree, 
Kay,  Blunt,  Meeker  and  the  disabled  and  wounded 
men  had  been  paddled  round  past  Sulpicio,  and 
borne  through  the  surf  at  Boutelle  in  the  arms  of  the 
returned  cavalrymen.  Crab  was  too  weak  to  stir 
hand  or  foot  Ray  was  raving  in  brain  fever  and 
was  carried  to  the  room  recently  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Dean,  for  Gertrude  had  stayed  at  Bato  to  nurse 
Paloma,  and  thither  Mrs.  Dean  had  insisted  on  go 
ing  in  the  banca  that  went  with  supplies  for  the 
wounded.  Her  child,  she  said,  had  need  of  her  and 
heaven  would  send  her  strength. 

In  vain  had  Mrs.  Blake  remonstrated.  Both  Ger 
trude  and  Paloma  should  be  brought  to  Boutelle,  she 
said,  and  most  tenderly  should  they  be  cared  for,  but 
Scamraon,  when  he  came  with  his  boatload  of  in 
valids,  said  Mrs.  Dean  had  acted  for  the  best.  The 
good  padre  at  Bato  had  opened  his  heart  and  doors  to 
Paloma  and  her  American  friends.  It  was  a  simple 
case;  they  would  be  better  there.  Indeed,  Mrs. 
Blake  was  both  pained  and  surprised  that  the  doctor 
should  speak  with  such — such  lack  of  feeling — or  in 
terest — or  something,  of  the  gentle  girl  she  had  grown 
to  hold  so  dear — the  girl  who  seemed  to  her  fond  and 


300          Jlieutenant  §>anOp 

yearning  heart  so  like  what  her  own  beloved  daugh 
ter  might  have  grown  to  be  had  God  but  spared  her. 

Any  other  time,  perhaps,  "Aunt  Xannie"  would 
have  upbraided,  possibly  would  have  demanded  ex 
planation,  but,  bereft  of  Gertrude,  she  still  had 
Sandy,  and  Sandy  stood  in  grave  need  of  her  devo 
tion,  for  he  was  a  sore-stricken  man. 

"Another  whack  would  have  finished  him,"  said 
Scammon,  gravely.  "They  were  lugging  him  away 
to  their  boats  when  Walker  dashed  into  them  and 
saved  him.  He  got  there  not  a  second  too  soon !" 

And  Walker  was  the  man  Sandy  Ray  seemed  so 
thoroughly  to  despise,  and  Gertrude  shuddered  at 
sound  of  his  name,  and  she  herself,  Xannie  Blake,  in 
all  her  quarter  century's  experience  in  the  army,  had 
rarely  seen  an  officer  whom  she  so  instinctively  dis 
approved  of !  It  was  all  so  strange. 

"Send  Sergeant  Butts  here,"  said  Blake,  to  Feth- 
ers,  rising  to  his  long  legs  and  impatiently  pacing  the 
office  floor.  "I'm  blessed  if  I  can  fathom  this." 

And  Sergeant  Butts  came  promptly — a  soldierly 
fellow,  the  non-commissioned  officer  whom  Crab 
himself  had  selected  to  go  with  the  little  detachment 
vthat  marched  with  Lieutenant  Walker,  and  Butts  re 
spectfully  told  the  tale  to  the  cavalry  colonel  as  he 
had  previously  told  it  to  Captain  Prince,  and  for  the 
life  of  him,  though  something  seemed  amiss,  Blake 
could  find  no  flaw  in  it. 

"It  was  when  we  got   to   the  east  fork,  sir.     We 


Lieutenant  ^anflg  Hag         sot 

bivvywhacked  there  for  the  night,  and  the  lieutenant 
had  been  questioning  every  native  we  met.  He 
could  get  something  out  of  'em,  though  none  of  us 
could  speak  their  lingo.  That  night  he  said  Lieuten 
ant  Blunt's  camp  couldn't  be  more'n  a  dozen  miles 
further,  and  the  niggers  told  him  all  ladrones  had 
vamoosed,  and  sure  had  gone  down  the  river.  There 
were  Americanos  at  Bato,  one  of  them  sick.  So  that 
night  the  lieutenant  with  two  of  'em  pushed  out  in  a 
banca.  He  said  they'd  paddle  down  and  find  out 
who  the  American  was,  and  what  was  the  matter.  He 
knew  the  country,  having  been  out  there  shooting 
from  San  Sulpicio."  Sergeant  Butts  was  to  stay 
there  with  the  party  till  he  came  back,  but  to  send  two 
men  ahead  at  daybreak  to  find  Lieutenant  Blunt's 
camp.  "I  tried  to  get  the  lieutenant  to  take  two  men 
with  him,  sir,"  said  Butts,  "but  he  just  laughed — 
said  there  was  no  reason — he  knew  what  he  was 
about,  and  he  might  make  important  finds  there," 
and  that  was  the  last  they  saw  of  him  till  the  fight. 
Captain  Prince  had  come  along  with  his  company, 
and  then  they  all  "hiked  down  the  left  bank,"  waded 
the  south  fork  and  went  on  till  they  hit  the  ladrones 
and  found  Lieutenant  Walker  in  command  at  Balli- 
wag  Bend. 

And  the  best  or  worst  that  Blake  could  make  of  it 
was  that  Walker  had  done  a  daring  and  foolhardy 
thing  that  enabled  him  to  turn  up,  like  the  "Johnny- 
on-the-Spot"  he  claimed  to  be,  just  when  he  was  most 


302         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

needed,  and  in  time  to  render  gallant  and  valuable 
service. 

But  still  the  colonel  was  not  satisfied.  He  went 
over  to  hospital  to  see  the  wounded,  and  bade  Ser 
geant  Prosser  tell  how  they  met  the  lieutenant  and  • 
where.  Prosser,  himself  an  all-round  ball  player  and 
enthusiast,  kindled  with  admiration  and  said:  "We 
met  him  right  there,  sir,  close  to  the  brook.  He  came 
running  along  the  line,  dodging  through  the  trees  and 
shouting,  'This  way,  men!'  and  rushing  ahead  like 
nothing  could  stop  him,  whereas  we  were  all  blown 
and  played  out.  He  charged  into  the  gang  like  a  wild 
bull.  ?Twas  as  much  as  we  could  do  to  stop  him  from 
swimming  after  a  banca  and  boarding  it  all  alone. 
'Twas  so  much  easier  to  shoot  from  the  bank.  0,  he's 
a  fighter  all  right,  sir !"  said  Prosser,  and  the  colonel 
came  away  with  thoughtful  face  and  troubled  eyes. 
There  were  papers  in  a  pigeonhole  that  only  Fethers 
had  been  permitted  to  see,  that  threw  so  different  a 
light  on  Walker's  dealings  and  doings.  Time  was  in 
the  distant  past  when  Blake  had  seen  the  effect  of 
scandals,  told  in  garrison,  at  the  expense  of  an  officer 
at  that  moment  doing  most  valiant  service  at  the  dis 
tant  front,  and  he  was  thinking  of  that  now,  now 
;when  Walker's  praises  were  on  many  a  lip,  and  only 
he  and  his  adjutant  were  in  possession  of  these  new 
and  damaging  tales  about  him. 

But  at  any  moment,    now,    communication    with 
Dagupan  and  Manila  might  be  reopened  by  land.   At 


JLieiitenam  @anDp  Bap         303 

any  moment  a  coasting  steamer  might  drop  in  for  the 
mails.  At  any  moment  he  could  charter  a  native  sail 
ing  vessel  and  send  his  despatches  to  Dagupan  by  sea. 
Indeed  it  was  high  time  he  did  so,  and,  in  forward 
ing  the  report,  he  could  not  ignore  those  of  Crabtree 
and  Prince,  so  earnestly  commending  Walker's  con 
duct.  Moreover,  he  must  lose  no  time  in  getting 
word  to  the  Rays  of  the  very  serious  condition  in 
which  Sandy  lay.  Even  Scammon,  most  cheery  of 
"medicine  men"  ordinarily,  looked  anxious  every 
time  he  came  away  from  his  young  patient's  bedside, 
and  he  had  been  there  thrice  within  the  past  twelve 
hours.  Scammon  was  not  like  himself  anyhow,  said 
Blake,  to  his  brave  but  sorely  worried  wife.  He  had 
"taken  such  a  shine"  to  Ray  at  first — seemed  so 
heartily  to  like  him — was  so  sympathetic  when  he  re 
turned  (ahead  of  Forrest's  slow  marching  column) 
over  the  ill  luck  that  had  kept  Sandy  from  taking  part 
in  that  expedition.  One  of  the  frankest,  most  open- 
souled  creatures  in  the  world  was  Scammon,  as  Mrs. 
Blake  was  saying.  You  could  almost  tell  what  he 
was  thinking  even  when  it  was  of  a  patient  in  critical 
condition,  and  now,  though  most  assiduous  in  pro 
fessional  attention  to  Sandy,  he  seemed  averse  to 
speaking  of  him — averse  to  any  mention  of  his  prob 
able  part  in  the  recent  exciting  events  down  beyond 
Sulpicio.  Blake  could  not  make  him  out  Mrs. 
Blake,  who  overwhelmed  him  with  questions  about 
Gertrude,  found  him  awkward,  embarrassed,  uncom- 


304          JUeutenam  ^anOp  Bag 

municative,  and  it  was  impossible  to  account  for  it. 
She  opened  her  heart  to  Mrs.  Scammon  and  found  her 
equally  puzzled,  and  for  similar  reasons.  What  on 
earth  had  the  doctor  heard  or  discovered  ?  What  on 
earth  could  he  be  concealing? 

Orders  had  been  sent  to  Prince  to  push  on  again 
for  Blunt's  old  camp  and  to  take  up  his  work  where 
he  had  left  it.  Blunt  was  confident  that  a  troop  could 
ride  right  through  to  the  railway,  and  the  troop  to  go 
was  already  designated.  Crabtree,  gallant  fellow, 
suffering  from  two  serious  wounds  and  weak  from 
extreme  loss  of  blood,  would  nevertheless  be  pro 
gressing  favorably  toward  recovery,  said  the  doctor, 
only — only  he  "seems  to  have  something  on  his 
mind."  It  was  marvelous  how  a  man  who  had  lost 
so  much  blood  could  find  such  a  fever,  but  fever  came 
and  Crab  babbled  like  a  child  in  his  broken,  fitful 
sleep,  sometimes  even  when  awake. 

Stopping  in  to  see  him  on  the  way  back  to  the  office 
where  Fethers  was  copying  the  rough  draft  of  the  re 
port,  Colonel  Blake  found  Mrs.  Scammon,  with  the 
hospital  nurse  at  the  captain's  bedside,  and  as  he  en 
tered  she  and  the  attendants  were  on  their  feet  on 
,  opposite  sides  of  the  bed,  with  such  a  strange,  scared, 
guilty  look  in  their  eyes  as  they  gazed  almost  help 
lessly  at  each  other. 

At  the  instant  of  his  entrance,  Mrs.  Scammon 
turned,  saw  who  it  was,  and  instantly,  instinctively, 
sought  to  place  her  hand  over  the  patient's  mouth,  for 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Hap         305 

Crab's  eyes,  heavy  and  suffused  with  fever,  were  yet 
lighted  with  some  strange  intelligence ;  his  voice  that 
had  been  feeble,  had  gained  new  power,  and  words, 
words  uncontrollable,  amazing,  abominable  words, 
were  rolling  from  his  lips,  and  Blake  was  brought  up 
standing,  fairly  appalled  by  the  first  that  reached  his 
ears.  Then  with  something  like  a  wail  of  anguish, 
Mrs.  Scammon  quit  the  bedside  and  almost  threw 
herself  upon  him. 

"O,  colonel,  colonel!"  she  cried,  "don't  listen! 
Don't  think  of  it !  He's  just  stark,  staring  mad !" 

Then  Scammon  himself  came  hurrying  in,  and  be 
tween  them,  Blake  was  led  away. 


306         JUeutenam 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

CHEISTMAS  holidays  had  come  and  Crabtree  was 
again  afoot,  clothed  in  his  right  mind  and  rejoicing 
in  the  soft  and  balmy  Seabreeze  that  blew  across  the 
shaded  after  deck  of  the  Pittsburg,  and  straight,  pos 
sibly,  from  Ceylon's  isle.  The  spice  thereof  might 
have  been  absorbed  in  the  leagues  of  salt  that  had 
been  traversed,  but  no  spice  had  been  lacking  in  life 
at  Boutelle  in  the  month  gone  by.  Crab,  to  be  sure, 
knew  little  about  it,  though  he  had  furnished  much. 
Crab  had  been  mad  as  a  March  hare,  and  in  the 
course  of  his  fevered  ravings  had  said  stupendous 
things.  Crab  had  parted  with  a  long  cherished  fam 
ily  secret  concerning  his  past,  had  prattled  for  hours 
of  being  indeed  a  Paget  on  the  distaff  side,  a  younger 
son  of  a  distinguished  house,  name  not  even  here  to 
be  mentioned,  since  it  was  the  mother's  name  he  had 
taken,  and  taken  not  in  vain,  to  the  service  of  the 
United  States.  Crab  had  managed  to  reveal  how 
disgrace  and  dishonor  had  followed  on  the  heels  of  a 
forbidden  marriage  before  he  was  twenty-one,  a  mar 
riage  that  had  wrecked  him  before  he  was  twenty-two, 
the  lady  in  the  case  then  consistently  flitting  to 
France  with  an  older  and  wealthier  fool,  and  leav- 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  map         SOT 

ing  him  free  to  begin  life  anew  with  nothing.  Crab 
had  babbled  of  days  in  the  ranks  of  the  Lancers  in 
Hindostan,  until  recognized  and  brought  out  by  the 
elder  brother  who  loved  and  had  faith  in  him.  And 
even  then,  it  seems,  Crab  wouldn't  go  home  and  take 
up  the  old  name  again.  The  gentle  mother  had  died, 
the  angering  old  father  had  measurably  relented,  but 
the  young  soldier  had  brought  discredit  to  the  race  in 
wedding  the  lass  against  whom  they  had  warned  him, 
and  never,  said  he,  would  he  resume  it  until  honor 
exceeding  the  disgrace  had  been  won  for  it.  Where 
fore  had  he  come  to  soldier  in  the  United  States,  suf 
fering  long  for  a  chance  to  do  something,  and  getting 
it  at  last,  and  almost  his  quietus,  in  the  bamboo 
brakes  of  "Balliwag."  Time  and  again  the  men  of 
even  his  own  command  had  laughed  at  his  methods 
and  mimicked  his  mannerisms,  but  the  man  who 
dared  it  now  would  have  been  mobbed  by  his  fel 
lows,  for  from  grizzled  old  Prosser  down  to  Jerry 
Donovan,  the  "kid"  of  the  company,  they  swore  by 
him,  bragged  by  the  hour  of  "the  old  man's"  grit  and 
pluck  after  getting  the  first  wound,  still  cheering  and 
leading  them  on,  handling  a  Krag  instead  of  the 
sabre,  bleeding  "like  a  stuck  pig"  the  while,  and 
never  giving  up  till  the  battle  was  over,  his  blood 
nearly  gone,  and  a  second  shot  had  felled  him.  "Oh, 
yes,  he's  a  Johnny  Bull  all  right,"  said  the  men  of 
Company  "A,"  "but  what  have  you  fellows  got  to 
onateh  him?"  This  to  the  home  keeping  gang  of  a 


308         niett tenant  ^>an»p  Bap 

rival  command  that  had  never  been  in  a  fight  and 
were  consumed  with  envy  and  hatred  in  consequence. 

Little  by  little  as  Crab  came  back  to  his  own,  from 
the  airy  fabric  of  his  dreams,  wherein  he  was  again 
commahnding  officer  and  ruling  the  mess,  he  drooped 
languidly  to  the  consciousness  that  after  all  he  was 
but  clay  and  well  nigh  spent  in  the  struggle.  They 
gradually  let  him  know,  did  Scammon  and  his  good 
wife,  of  much  he  had  revealed  concerning  himself, 
but  of  what  he  had  told  concerning,  and  most  cruelly, 
concerning  others,  there  was  to  be  no  telling  until  he 
should  have  regained  all  his  strength,  and  meantime 
momentous  matters  had  come  to  pass. 

A  general  court-martial,  presided  over  by  a  vet 
eran  colonel,  and  composed  of  officers  of  rank  and 
high  repute  in  the  service,  had  been  summoned  to 
meet  in  Manila  on  or  about  the  27th  day  of  Decem 
ber,  for  the  trial  of  First  Lieutenant  Harrison 
Walker,  Forty-Second  Infantry,  and  such  other  per 
sons  as  might  properly  be  brought  before  it.  Major 
Forrest,  — d  Cavalry — commanding  Camp  Boutelle 
in  the  absence  of  Colonel  Blake,  previously  sum 
moned  to  Division  Headquarters — had  been  in  daily; 
conference  with  Captain  Crabtree  until  the  latter 
was  strong  enough  to  be  boated  and  hoisted  aboard 
the  hospitable  Pittsburg.  Lieutenant  Ray,  convales 
cent,  after  a  most  serious  spell  of  brain  fever,  and  still 
very  weak,  had  been  taken  to  Manila  with  the  Blakes, 
for  Aunt  Nannie,  a  grave-faced,  anxious  woman,  this 


Lieutenant  ^anCg  Bag         309 


time  stayed  not  alone  with  the  Moons  in  the  big 
spacious  house.  Blunt,  too,  with  the  imperturbable 
Hilarious,  had  gone  by  sea  at  the  same  time  with  the 
Blakes,  and  Blunt  could  not  do  enough  to  show  the 
depth  of  his  regard  for  Sandy  Kay.  Blunt  had  had 
a  row  with  the  uxorious  yet  excellent  Lieutenant 
Shane,  all  on  account  of  certain  insinuations  let  fall 
from  the  rosy  lips  of  "that  most  impertinent  young 
person,  "  Mrs.  Shane,  and  his  very  blunt  and  Blunt- 
like  response.  Shane  decided  that  apology  was  due. 

"Apologize  to  Mrs.  Shane!"  said  Blunt,  when 
called  upon  by  her  subordinate  liege.  "ISTo,  sir!  If 
ever  I  felt  like  seizing  and  shaking  a  woman  it  was 
Mrs.  Shane  that  day,  and  by  -  ,  Tom  Shane,  if  you 
don't  get  out  of  here,  I'm  damned  if  I  don't  shake 
you!" 

But  this  episode,  and  others,  Sandy  Ray  was  per 
mitted  to  hear  nothing  about  until  later.  He  won 
dered  languidly,  and  without  much  caring,  why  it 
was  that  several  men  and  two  or  three  women  seemed 
to  hold  aloof  from  the  colonel's  quarters  when  he 
was  well  enough  to  be  up,  and  why  there  seemed  to 
be  constraint  when  it  came  to  saying  good-bye.  He 
would  have  wondered  more  could  he  have  seen  those 
few  people  when,  a  week  after  the  going  of  the 
Blakes,  Blunt  and  Ray  —  all  summoned  to  Manila  — 
there  came  of  a  sudden  the  startling  tidings  that 
Lieutenant  Walker  had  been  arrested  aboard  the 
OEsmeralda,  in  disguise  and  a  locked  cabin,  just  half 


310          Lieutenant 

an  hour  before  she  steamed  for  Hong  Kong — that  he 
had  deserted  from  Captain  Prince's  command,  away 
down  toward  Dagupan,  and  that  charges  of  every; 
conceivable  character  were  filed  against  him. 

Yet  it  was  on  Mr.  "Hasty"  Walker's  authority, 
backed  by  rumors  of  Crabtree's  revelations,  that 
some  of  those  equally  hasty  garrison  folk  had  ven 
tured  to  point  the  metaphorical  finger  of  scorn  at  one 
fair  and  spotless  girl,  to  gossip  and  titter  about  one 
long-loved  and  honored  army  wife,  to  sneer  at  the 
reputation  of  a  gallant  and  knightly  young  soldier, 
and  to  write  of  it  all,  confound  them !  to  friends  and 
fellow-citizens  across  the  sea  for  the  edification  of 
social  circles  at  home,  and  the  unstinted  joy  of  more 
than  one  paragrapher. 

There  were  other  witnesses,  required  by  this  most 
distinguished  court,  whose  summons  never  reached 
them  until  long  after  the  need  was  over.  With  the 
Hong  Kong  postmark  there  came  a  letter  to  Mrs. 
Blake  on  Christmas  morning,  as  she  sat  on  the  upper 
gallery  of  the  stately  old  Spanish  home,  looking  out 
over  the  sparkling  waters  of  Manila  Bay.  She  knew 
the  handwriting  at  once — Gertrude's — and  was  deep 
in  its  swiftly  penned  pages  in  a  moment.  She  read 
and  read  again,  and  still  again,  and  then  clasping  it 
to  her  bosom,  rose  and  rejoicefully  paced  the  marble 
gallery  until  her  husband  came. 

"Such  glad  news,  Gerald!"  she  cried,  as  she  ran 


Lieutenant  ®anDg  Bap         311 

to  meet  him.  "Gertrude  and  her  mother,  at  least, 
will  never  know  want  again." 

"Old  Uncle  Thingumbob  come  to  his  senses  ?" 
asked  the  colonel,  noting  gladly  the  return  of  bloom 
to  the  soft  cheek  of  his  wife,  and  kissing  the  same, 
appreciatively. 

"Yes,  though  Mrs.  Dean  insists  on  living  with  him 
at  Shanghai." 

"Never,  never  will  desert  Mr.  Micawber,  I  sup 
pose  r 

"Her  brother  would  have  given  her  a  home  and — 
everything  long  ago,  if  she  could  only  have  cut  loose 
from  that — that  impossible,"  said  Aunt  Dannie. 
Then  with  her  eyes  brimming :  "And  think  what  that 
might  have  meant  for  Gertrude !" 

"More  money  than  he  knows  what  to  do  with,  is 
it  ?  What  got  it,  Nan,  Standard  Oil  or  Life  Insur- 


'ance?" 


"Mines,  dear." 

,  "Hum — ph.  -  The  earth,  not  the  fools  thereof,  had 
tto  disgorge.     I  wish — Sandy — had  the  half  of  it." 

"He  might  and — more,"  said    Aunt    Nan,    with 
[plaintive  face,  "if  only " 

But  the  Deans  were  gone  and  the  court  was  on  the 
[eve  of  meeting,  and  the  prisoner  at  the  bar  was  under 
guard  at  the  barracks.  Being  a  deserter,  escaping 
in  disguise  through  Dagupan,  and  down  the  railway, 
and  well  nigh  off  to  the  British  possessions,  the  favor 
of  mere  arrest  could  not  be  accorded  him.  A  sentry 


312          Lieutenant  San  Dp  Kap 

with  fixed  bayonet  stood  at  the  door  of  his  little  room. 
Another  stood  ready  beneath  his  window.  The 
charges  against  him  ran  the  gamut  of  a  dozen  articles 
of  war  and  half  those  of  the  decalogue.  From  having 
posed  as  the  hero  of  the  "Balliwag"  he  had  dropped, 
said  Blake,  to  the  plane  of  a  word  that  just  rhymed 
with  it.  Theft,  embezzlement,  forgery,  false  reports, 
lying,  slandering,  violation  of  orders,  breach  of  ar 
rest,  desertion  in  face  of  the  enemy,  etc.,  etc.,  and  all 
these  no  worse  than  one  blackguard  deed  as  yet  not  re 
duced  to  writing,  as  were  its  effects — in  letters  from 
misguided  gossips  at  Boutelle. 

And  the  hottest,  most  vehement  of  his  accusers  was 
his  erstwhile  comrade  Blunt,  who  with  Sandy  Ray, 
had  been  made  welcome  under  the  roof  of  a  senior 
officer,  playing  bachelor  in  Manila,  where  for  the  first 
time  Blunt  heard  Ray's  story  of  the  fierce  grapple 
with  Walker  that  day  of  the  Balliwag,  the  story  of 
which  even  Ray  could  tell  only  the  first  half,  since 
he  was  battered  senseless  in  less  than  a  minute,  and 
of  the  rest  of  which  he  knew  nothing  until  long  days 
after — the  story  that  caused  Blunt  to  stare  wildly, 
almost  incredulous,  for  the  moment,  and  then  to 
break  forth  in  furious  imprecation  that  amazed  even 
the  victim  of  Walker's  brute  strength  and  damnable 
treachery.  Blunt,  it  seems,  when  marching  from 
Boutelle,  had  left  Walker  a  letter  to  post  at  first  pos 
sible  opportunity,  the  letter  that  held  Sandy's 
check  for  one  hundred  dollars,  made  payable  to  and 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Hag         sis 

endorsed  by  Blunt,  abstracted,  raised  to  five  hundred 
and  tendered  by  Walker  to  a  collector  in  Manila  em 
ployed  by  certain  firms  in  the  United  States.  With 
it,  in  the  hands  of  the  judge  advocate  of  the  division, 
were  two  other  checks  for  $250  each,  purporting  to 
be  drawn  by  Sanford  Kay  in  favor  of  Walker,  checks 
that  had  been  accepted  by  two  different  agents  in 
Manila.  Very  neat  and  creditable  forgeries  they 
were,  too,  until  examined  by  an  expert  paymaster. 
The  forger  had  counted,  probably,  on  escaping  to 
Manila,  cashing  more  checks  and  slipping  across  the 
China  Sea  before  these  were  presented  for  payment 
to  the  bank  in  ISTew  York.  Then  there  was  the  mess 
money  poor  Belden  had  had  to  make  good.  Who  but 
Walker  could  have  walked  off  with  that  ?  Even  the 
missing  fifty  dollar  bill  was  found  again  upon  his 
person.  Prince,  too,  was  confirmation  as  to  this.  Be 
yond  doubt,  he  said,  the  dread  and  agitation  shown 
at  first  by  Walker  the  morning  Prince  went  in  to 
accuse  him,  were  due  to  his  belief  that  he  had  been 
detected  as  the  thief  of  the  mess  money.  The  dis 
covery  of  Prince's  real  charge  and  purpose  brought 
instant  and  overwhelming  relief,  and  then  insolence 
and  assault.  Then  there  were  claims  from  defrauded 
people  by  the  dozen  wheresoever  that  ingenious  young 
officer  had  landed.  There  was  his  swindling  of  poor, 
murdered  Harry  Dean  and  the  exposure  of  the  pecu 
lations  the  loving  sister  had  periled  so  much  to  cover 
and  conceal.  "Then  there  was  that  bugle  business 


Lieutenant  S>anBg  Bap 

and  the  way  he  lied  out  of  it,"  said  Blunt.  "That 
fellow  could  turn  a  tune,  so  it  turns  out,  on  half  a 
dozen  wind  instruments  besides  his  ugly  mouth/'  and 
still  all  these  did  not  fully  account  for  Blunt' s  furi 
ous,  vehement,  passionate  hate  of  the  fallen  man. 
Blunt  swore  there  was  no  legal  punishment  that 
could  begin  to  repay  him  for  what  he  had  done. 
Blunt  was  for  tearing  him  away  from  the  guard,  tarr 
ing  and  feathering  him  in  front  of  the  Malate  cathe 
dral,  riding  him  the  length  of  the  Calle  Keal  on  the 
sharpest  kind  of  a  rail  and  then  dumping  him  into 
the  dirtiest  hole  in  the  ditch  of  the  walled  city. 
"Boiling  alive,  like  the  lying  lobster  he  is,  ain't  half 
bad  enough  for  him !"  said  Blunt,  and  the  more  Eay 
protested  at  such  vehemence  the  madder  he  got — so 
mad  that  one  night  at  last  it  came — the  pent  up  fury 
of  an  honest,  sturdy  soul  against  as  black  a  villain  as 
ever  tore  a  good  name  to  tatters. 

"Why,  damn  you,  Kay,  for  a  mollycoddle,"  and 
Blunt's  face  went  red  as  fire  at  his  own  words.  "He 
told  Crab  and  Scammon  he  found  you  and  that  sweet 
girl  of  Dean's — faugh!  I  can't  foul  even  my  blas 
phemous  mouth  with  it! — when  you  were — hiding 
there  by  the  river.  He  told  them  he  could  have  put 
an  end  to  you,  if  the  niggers  hadn't,  for  daring  to — 
approach  your  colonel's  wife — and  have  her  in  your 
quarters  while  he  was  away  at  Manila.  He — for 
God's  sake,  man "  he  broke  off,  suddenly,  limp- 


JLieutenant  Bating  map 

ing  after  his  light-footed  comrade  to  the  door.    "Ray, 
come  back,  for  God's  sake  come  back !" 

But  Sandy  Ray,  with  blanched  face  and  blazing 
eyes,  had  burst  from  the  room,  gone  bounding  down 
the  winding  stone  steps  to  the  cobbled  court  beneath, 
and  thence  to  the  dimly  lighted  street  beyond — gone, 
and  his  pistol  with  him ! — gone,  and  the  best  his  crip 
pled  brother  officer  could  do  was  gather  up  his  stick 
and  go  hobbling  after  him,  sending  up  a  yell  as  he 
sighted  the  sentry  at  the  barrack  gate — a  yell  for  the 

corporal  of  the  guard. 
********** 

The  court  met  pursuant  to  orders  on  the  following 
morning,  but  the  case  between  the  United  States  of 
America  and  the  first  prisoner  to  be  tried  had  been, 
transferred  to  one  of  final — and  eternal — jurisdic 
tion.  What  was  left  of  Lieutenant  Harrison  Walker, 
formerly  Forty-Second  Infantry,  lay  stiffening  on  a 
pallet  at  the  old  Second  Reserve,  and  over  at  his  tem 
porary  quarters  in  the  Ermita  suburb,  barely  two 
blocks  distant,  Lieutenant  Sanford  Ray,  with  pallid, 
twitching  face,  was  nervously  tramping  the  narrow 
limits  assigned  him,  with  three  or  four  sad-eyed, 
sympathetic  comrades  exchanging  murmured  com 
ment  and  confidences  at  the  door  of  the  room  to  which 
he  had  been  ordered,  a  military  prisoner  in  close 
arrest. 


316         Jlteutenant  §>an&p  Hap 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  glad  new  year  came  in  accompanied  by  not  a 
little  ceremony,  ecclesiastical  as  befitted  the  mother 
church,  and  military  as  befell  our  usually  matter-of- 
fact  establishment,  because  of  the  entrance  of  a  new 
commander  and  the  exit  of  the  old.  There  was  much 
parading  of  the  priesthood  and  burning  of  incense  at 
the  venerable  and  numerous  edificios  religiosos,  and 
as  much  parading  of  soldiery  and  burning  of  powder 
along  the  Luneta  and  the  Santa  Lucia.  The  big 
court-martial  was  given  a  recess,  and  a  bigger  sensa 
tion  suffered  something  of  eclipse,  pending  the  ex 
penditure  of  time  and  cartridges  attendant  upon  the 
transfer  of  the  command  of  the  Military  Division  of 
the  Philippines.  But  there  had  been  a  week  dur 
ing  which  the  tragic  fate  of  Hasty  Walker  was  the 
talk  of  the  town.  The  first  story,  spreading  like  wild 
fire,  was  that  he  had  been  shot  dead  by  Sandy  Kay. 
The  second,  gaining  ground  but  slowly,  was  that  he 
was  not  shot  at  all.  The  final  and  conclusive  one, 
was  the  composite  told  by  Lieutenant  Harriott,  — th 
Infantry,  officer  of  the  guard,  Corporal  Martin  Con- 
way,  commanding  second  relief  on  duty  at  the  Cuar- 
tel,  and  Private  Jacobs,  sentry  on  Xumber  7,  to  Lieu- 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap         sir 

tenant  Colonel  Webster,  commanding  regiment  and 
barracks,  the  following  morning,  and  by  him  for 
warded  to  the  general  commanding  the  Department 
of  Luzon,  who  in  turn,  and  still  later,  sent  it  up  to 
Division  Headquarters,  where  eventually  it  reached 
the  eye  of  the  incoming  chief.  Meanwhile,  all  man 
ner  of  versions  had  been  afloat — the  one  at  first  in 
general  circulation  being  that  Ray  had  rushed  past 
the  gate  guard  and  up  the  steps,  past  the  sentry  at  the 
room  door,  and,  without  an  instant's  wait  or  warning, 
had  sent  shot  after  shot  through  Walker's  body  as  he 
lay  helpless  on  his  cot. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  body,  still  warm  and 
quivering,  was  picked  up  on  the  stone  flagging  at  a 
point  some  seventy-five  yards  distant  from  the  pris 
oner's  room  and  nearly  forty  feet  below  it,  this  story 
should  not  have  been  published  by  representatives  of 
the  press,  speedily  at  the  spot,  but  it  was  by  long  odds 
the  most  sensational,  which  was  all  sufficient  to  set 
and  keep  it  going  until  the  second  day  thereafter, 
when  in  soldier  circles,  at  least,  the  truth  began  to  be 
known. 

Harriott,  officer  of  the  guard,  reported  in  writing 
as  follows: 

"I  was  at  the  guard  room  door  inquiring  as  to  the 
cause  of  some  noise  or  altercation  I  thought  I  had 
heard,  when  Sergeant  Burke  came  running  in,  ex- 
cited.  He  said  "No.  1  reported  that  an  officer,  who 
seemed  crazy  or  drunk,  had  just  rushed  in  with  a' 


318         Lieutenant  ^anDp  Hag 

pistol  in  each  hand.  Corporal  Conway  had  run  after 
him.  Then  we  heard  shouts  and  cries  upstairs  and 
a  rush  of  feet  along  the  upper  hall.  We  ran  up  at 
once  and  found  the  men  all  hurrying  to  the  south  end 
and  crowding  about  the  windows.  Sentry  Jacobs, 
who  had  been  posted  at  the  door  of  Lieutenant 
.Walker's  room,  was  right  among  them,  and  Corporal 
Conway  was  clinging  to  an  officer  whom  I  recognized 
as  Lieutenant  Kay,  — d  Cavalry.  They  were  strug 
gling  violently,  and  the  corporal  called  to  me  for 
help.  Then  there  came  a  yell  from  the  men  nearest 
the  window.  "My  God,  he's  down!"  "He's 
dropped !"  And  they  all  rushed  away  while  I  helped 
the  corporal  to  disarm  and  secure  the  lieutenant.  He 
had  a  revolver  in  his  right  hand,  all  chambers  loaded, 
none  discharged.  He  made  no  resistance  whatever 
after  I  put  my  hand  on  his  shoulder — seemed  dazed 
and  stunned  by  what  the  men  said.  I  ordered  Cor 
poral  Conway  to  guard  him  while  I  ran  down  after 
the  men.  There  was  a  crowd  gathered  in  the  court 
under  the  south  front,  and  there  I  found  Lieutenant 
Walker  senseless  and  bleeding.  Dr.  Cooper  came  in 
five  minutes  and  said  he  was  dead,  neck  broken  and 
skull  probably  crushed.  They  took  the  body  to  hos 
pital  and  I  went  back  to  investigate.  By  that  time 
Captain  McCall,  officer-of-the-day,  had  ordered  Lieu 
tenant  Ray  escorted  to  his  quarters  in  arrest,  and  was 
questioning  the  sentry.  That's  all  I  know." 

Corporal    Conway,    interrogated    by    Lieutenant 


Lieutenant  @an»p  Kap         319 

Colonel  Webster,  said,  "I  was  near  the  gate  when  I 
heard  a  rush  of  some  one  running  past  behind  me. 
The  sentry  looked  dazed  and  troubled,  said  'twas  an 
officer  ran  by  "with  a  gun  in  each  fist,"  and  I  hur 
ried  after,  calling,  stop  him.  They  did  try  opposite 
the  guard  room  door,  but  he  tore  through  them  like 
he  was  playing  football.  That  was  the  noise  Lieu 
tenant  Harriott  heard.  At  first  I  couldn't  tell  where 
he  had  gone  till  I  heard  shouting  up  stairs,  then  I 
ran,  and  when  I  got  to  the  corridor  everybody  was 
running  to  the  south  end,  and  there  was  Lieutenant 
Hay  trying  to  get  to  the  window,  and  Sentry  Jacobs 
a-hold  of  him  and  calling  to  me  for  help  and  to  look 
out  for  Lieutenant  Walker,  who'd  gone  out  of  the 
window.  Then  Lieutenant  Harriott  came." 

Then  Jacobs  told  his  tale.  "I  was  on  guard  at 
Lieutenant  Walker's  door,  had  orders  not  to  let  him 
out,  but  none  not  to  let  other  officers  in.  There  had 
been  two  or  three  to  see  him.  First  thing  I  knew  a 
lieutenant  in  white  uniform  came  sprinting  along 
the  hall,  one  hand  behind  his  back.  He  was  blowing 
when  he  got  there.  Never  said  nothing  at  all,  but 
just  shoved  right  in.  Lieutenant  Walker  was  lying 
on  his  bed  and  jumped  right  up  at  sight  of  him.  Then 
I  saw  the  other  lieutenant — Lieutenant  Ray — had 
two  pistols — revolvers,  and  was  holding  them  out  by; 
the  muzzles.  'Take  yer  choice,'  he  says;  'take  your 
choice  and  take  your  stand,  you  damnable  cur  and 
liar!  One  of  us  has  to  drop  right  here!'  And  bv 


S20         JLietitenant  SanDg  IRap 

that  time  I'd  run  in  to  put  a  stop  to  it,  and  while  I 
was  trying  to  hustle  the  first  one  out,  what  does  the 
other — Lieutenant  Walker — do  but  make  a  dive  past 
me  an7  out  into  the  hall,  an'  away  he  goes  like  blazes 
— me  and  the  other  lieutenant  and  a  whole  raft  of  the 
fellers  after  him.  He  was  just  crazy  with  fear,  and 
when  I  yelled  for  the  guard  he  dodged  away  from  the 
stairs  and  down  the  whole  length  of  the  hall,  and  then 
out  he  goes  at  the  window.  When  I  got  there,  what 
with  wrestling  with  Lieutenant  Ray  to  keep  him  from 
shootin'  and  having  me  own  rifle  to  look  after,  it 
wasn't  till  he'd  scrambled  along  the  ledge,  an'  most  to 
the  end,  that  I  could  see  him  again,  and  then,  wid 
us  both  shoutin'  and  men  shovin'  to  the  window,  he 
kind  o'  reeled  like,  and  I  heard  Corporal  Conway 
ordering  disperse,  an'  Lieutenant  Ray  doin'  his  best 
to  disperse  me.  Next  I  heard  was  the  fellers — the 
men — yellin'  he'd  jumped,  an'  that  was  the  last  of  it." 
The  last  of  the  authentic  story — the  last  of  an  un 
worthy  officer  and  man.  The  matter  was  all  cleared 
up  days  before  Sandy  Ray  was  in  mental  shape  to 
give  coherent  account  of  himself  for  his  part  in  the 
affair,  for  the  fearful  strain  and  excitement,  coming 
when  he  was  still  weak  from  his  serious  injuries  and 
illness,  had  brought  on  a  relapse  over  which  the  medi 
cal  director  of  the  division  gravely  shook  his  head, 
and  presently  telegraphed  for  Colonel  Ray.  From 
Major  Crawford's  orderly  it  was  learned  that  the 
lieutenant  had  darted  into  his  little  office,  opening  on 


Lieutenant  SanDg  Bag         321 

the  Calle  Real,  a  block  from  the  barracks,  had  seized 
the  major's  revolver  and  gone  speeding  away  down 
the  street.  This,  and  the  sentry's  story,  proved  that 
even  in  his  fury  at  Walker's  villainous  slanders,  Ray 
never  meant  to  shoot  him,  save  in  fair  fight.  But, 
however  valiant  Walker  might  have  been  in  grapple 
with  a  man  not  half  his  brute  strength,  he  had  no 
stomach  for  a  fight  in  which  firearms  would  set  them 
equal.  One  glimpse  of  the  deadly  purpose  in  Ray's 
blazing  eyes  had  stricken  him  with  terror.  Flight 
was  his  sole  impulse,  until  like  hunted  cat  he  had  lost 
his  grip  on  the  perilous  ledge  without  the  window, 
and  plunged  headlong  to  the  stony  area  below. 

But  long  days  before  the  tragic  ending  of  Walker's 
career  of  recklessness  and  crime,  Mrs.  Blake  had 
written  to  Gertrude  Dean  of  the  remarkable  reports 
concerning  the  valor  and  value  of  that  officer's  ser 
vices  in  the  affair  of  Balaoag,  and,  brief  hours  before, 
had  come  her  answer,  and  who  needs  now  to  be  told 
•what  manner  of  missive  that  was  ?  Blake,  when  he 
read  it,  could  hardly  contain  himself  with  impatience 
and  wrath.  Blake  was  actually  on  the  way  to  the 
walled  city,  late  as  it  was  at  night,  to  find  his  friend, 
the  adjutant  general,  when  stopped  by  the  crowd  at 
the  crossing  of  the  Calzada  de  Herran  and  the  tidings, 
as  first  told,  that  Lieutenant  Walker  was  being  borne 
to  the  hospital,  shot  to  death  by  Sandy  Ray.  Indeed, 
even  Blunt  at  first  believed  it,  and  Crabtree  and 
Prince  marveled  not,  nor  greatly  blamed ;  for,  of  all 


322         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Bap 

the  sins  with  which  that  low-born  soul  was  stained, 
the  worst  in  soldier  eyes  was  that  which  had  no  place 
whatever  in  the  charges  and  specifications  submitted 
to  the  martial — the  mortal — court. 

Small  need  to  dwell  on  the  days  that  swiftly  fol 
lowed. 

Colonel  and  Mrs.  Ray  had  come  hastening  from  a 
far  southern  province  to  nurse  their  boy,  only  to  find 
their  old  friends  and  long-time  neighbors,  the  Blakes, 
successfully  through  with  that  duty,  and  Sandy,  out 
of  arrest  by  department  order  even  before  out  of 
danger,  had  been  declared  convalescent  before  the 
transfer  of  the  command  from  the  old  general  to  the 
new.  Perhaps  had  he  been  permitted  to  see  some 
of  the  pages  Gertrude  Dean  had  penned,  the  recov 
ery  might  have  been  even  more  rapid,  but  there  were 
several  that  Aunt  Nannie  never  showed  to  him  until 
long  after.  There  were  one  or  two  she  never  yet  has 
shown  at  all. 

And  there  were  matters  connected  with  his  brief 
sojourn  at  Boutelle  that  Sandy,  after  conference  with 
his  father,  referred  to  a  solemn  little  conclave  where 
at  Blunt  and  Prince  and  Crabtree  freed  their  minds 
of  what  the  now  almost  unnamed  slanderer  had 
spoken,  and  then  shook  hands,  soldier  fashion,  with 
father  and  son,  on  the  agreement  that  in  the  future 
there  should  be  no  mention  of  it.  But  Blunt  ruefully 
admitted  that,  in  his  wrath  against  Walker,  Ray  was 
not  the  only  man  he  had  told.  Fethers  knew  of  it,. 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  map         323 

but  would  be  silent.  Shane,  who  differed  with  Blunt 
as  to  the  extent  of  Walker's  iniquities,  had  been 
stunned  to  temporary  silence  by  the  thunder  of 
Blunt's  revelations,  but  all  who  knew  Shane  and  Mrs. 
Shane  knew  well  that  his  silence  would  never  with1 
stand  her  cross-questioning.  Crab  held  up  his  hands 
in  piteous  dismay  at  Blunt's  confession.  Every 
woman  left  at  Boutelle,  said  he,  would  have  the  story 
in  full  by  this  time.  Pray  God  Mrs.  Blake  may  never 
hear  of  it !  Pray  God  it  may  never  reach  Gertrude 
Dean!  As  to  this  Colonel  Ray  was  less  concerned, 
however,  than  his  juniors.  People  will  scorn  the 
story,  he  said,  even  as  by  this  time  they  must  despise 
the  monger.  "It  will  die  a  natural  death,  which  was 
more  than  he  could."  But,  as  Sandy  recalled  the 
strange  words  scrawled  at  the  top  of  the  page  that  fell 
accidentally  under  his  eye  at  Blunt's  quarters,  and 
"Aunt  Nannie's"  instinctive  shrinking  from  the  man, 
and  Gertrude  Dean's  utter  horror  of  him,  he  had  his 
doubts  and  was  not  altogether  comforted. 

However,  there  was  no  sense  in  borrowing  trouble. 
The  reunion  that  had  begun  in  such  anxiety,  and  pro 
gressed  to  such  rejoicing,  must  speedily  end.  The' 
Eays  must  hasten  back  to  Zamboanga,  the  Blakes  to 
Boutelle.  There  was  to  be  a  dinner  by  way  of  adieu 
to  their  old  general,  and  a  welcome  to  the  new — a  big 
affair  to  which  no  less  than  fifty  officials  and  officers 
were  bidden,  and  the  resources  of  Manila  had  been 
ransacked  to  make  it  a  gastronomic  success.  The 


jUeutenam  San  Dp 

Club  and  the  Club's  brilliant  manager  would  see  to 
that.  As  for  the  speeches,  they  must  look  out  for 
themselves.  Much  could  be  expected  from  the  gov 
ernor,  but  less  from  the  commanding  general,  in  that 
line.  Four  or  five  star-bearers,  a  dozen  spread  eagles 
and  half  a  score  of  gold  and  silver  leaves  would  grace 
the  occasion,  but  very  few,  save  aides-de-camp,  among 
the  junior  officers  might  expect  invitation.  Crab- 
tree  and  Prince,  participants  in  the  recent  and  stir 
ring  affairs  with  ladrones,  had  been  duly  honored, 
and  Sandy  was  both  delighted  and  surprised  when  he, 
too,  received  a  card.  Crab  blushed  and  beamed  with 
joy  that  his  should  bear  the  superscription  Captain 
Almeric  Paget  Crabtree,  especially  as  a  famous 
British  sailor,  with  a  captain  or  two  from  his  fleet, 
and  a  distinguished  British  writer  and  traveler  were 
among  the  invited  guests. 

And  the  night  of  that  dinner  was  long  remembered 
in  Manila.  A  glorious,  starry,  cloudless,  breezeless, 
night,  with  the  bay  all  spangled  from  the  skies  above 
and  brilliant  with  the  illumination  of  the  war  ships. 
A  famous  Filipino  orchestra  played  sweetly  on  the 
spacious  gallery,  alternating  with  the  fine  band  of  the 
artillery  in  the  court  below.  Everything,  said  every 
body,  had  gone  off  swimmingly.  The  healths  of  the 
President  and  of  His  Majesty,  King  Edward,  had 
been  drunk  most  loyally,  and  worthily  responded  to. 
The  major  general  homeward  bound  had  been  hearty 
ily  toasted  and  gratefully  cheered.  His  successor: 


Lieutenant  §>anDg  Bag         32$ 

had  been  as  hopefully  honored,  and  both  had  said,  as 
best  they  could,  the  things  appropriate  to  the  occasion, 
and  then  a  well-worded  toast  to  the  navy  had  brought 
every  soldier,  civilian  and  foreigner  to  his  feet,  and  a 
gallant  rear  admiral  had  blushingly  acknowledged  the 
compliment,  and  then  another,  equally  solicitous,  had 
evoked  shouts  and  cheers  as  the  glasses  clinked  across 
the  board,  and  Britain's  men-o'-wars  men  beamed 
their  appreciation,  and  their  admiral,  having  been 
drafted  into  service  when  the  King  was  toasted,  the 
captain  of  the  Wonderful  plunged  valiantly  into  a 
troubled  sea  of  sentences  "hear,  beared"  vociferously 
by  Crab  and  cheered  by  everybody.  Then  the  civil 
service  had  its  innings,  well  handled,  despite  the  fact 
that  the  governor  general  had  answered  for  the  Presi 
dent,  and  might  not,  like  Costigan  of  blessed  mem 
ory,  respond  to  more  than  one.  By  this  time  it  was 
well  toward  midnight,  and,  the  more  formal  section 
of  the  banquet  being  over,  certain  seniors  and  elders 
cannily  withdrew,  and  a  livelier  toastmaster  took  the 
chair,  and  a  certain  few  with  the  gift  of  thinking  on 
their  feet  were  called  into  action,  and  fun  and  mer 
riment  were  flying  fast,  and  all  indeed  going  merry 
as  a  marriage  bell,  when  it  occurred  to  a  certain  elder 
present,  hapless  wight  (there  is  always  some  inspired 
idiot  at  such  an  affair  who  conceives  it  his  preroga 
tive  to  teach  the  toastmaster  his  duties)  to  rise  and, 
addressing  the  chair,  beg  leave  to  call  attention  to 
the  fact  that  "We  have  with  us  to-night  a  most  dis- 


326         Lieutenant  %anBp 

tinguished  guest  and  visitor  who  has  not  yet  been 
heard  from,  and  I'm  sure  everybody  present  would 
be  glad  if  he  would  say  a  few  words,  I  refer  to  the 
brilliant  correspondent  of  the  London  Fulminator, 
now  for  the  first  time  a  sojourner  on  American  soil/' 
whereat  there  were  glances  of  consternation,  and 
moans  of  anguish,  among  the  martial  Britons,  but  the 
toastmaeter  had  no  alternative,  and,  with  the  best 
possible  grace,  turned  to  the  gentleman  thus  distin 
guished,  and  again  Crab  began  to  "Hear,  hear"  re- 
joicefully  as  that  broad  visaged,  broad  waistcoated 
personage,  somewhat  ponderously  found  his  feet  and 
presently  began  his  say. 

These  were  still  touchy  times  In  Manila.  Men 
had  by  no  means  begun  to  forget  the  hideous  doings 
in  Samar,  Mindanao  and  even  in  sections  of  Luzon. 
Foul  treachery  had  done  to  death  brave  officers  and 
men  even  in  the  shadow  of  the  sanctuary  they  had 
guarded.  Priests  and  Presidentes  had  connived  at 
the  massacre  of  unarmed  soldiery.  Guides  had  led 
our  columns  into  ambuscade.  Native  officials,  sworn 
to  the  service  of  the  United  States,  had  buried  alive 
our  wounded  men,  and  inflicted  cruel  torture  on  pris 
oners  and  captives — our  boys  in  blue  and  they  who 
befriended  them.  Beloved  officers,  unarmed  and  un 
prepared,  had  been  knifed  through  treachery  abroad, 
and  others,  equally  beloved,  who  had  found  an  infalli 
ble  yet  ultimately  harmless  process  of  bringing  re 
calcitrant  Presidentes  to  book,  had  been  court-mar* 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  iRap         327 

Itialed  and  punished  in  deference  to  a  shuddering  pub 
lic  sentiment  at  home.  It  was  bad  enough  to  have 
to  bear  that  from  one's  own  press  and  people,  but  be 
fore  the  distinguished  guest  had  been  speaking  four 
minutes  it  was  found  that  he,  too,  was  bent  on  touch 
ing  on  that  almost  forbidden  topic,  and  a  silence  such 
as  precedes  the  coming  of  the  typhoon  fell  upon  the 
board. 

He  took  himself  seriously,  did  our  visitor.  He  had 
read  and  written  far  more  than  he  had  traveled.  He 
came  from  a  people  who  for  ages  had  had  colonies 
all  over  the  globe,  to  a  people  who  were  making  their 
first  experiment,  and  therefore  should  welcome  ad 
vice,  suggestion,  admonition,  and  he  gave  all  three> 
ponderously  regretting  that,  albeit  in  very  few  in 
stances,  our  unaccustomed  hands  should  have  been 
betrayed  into  deeds  of  which  Christendom  and  civili 
zation,  and  he  was  grateful  to  observe  the  American 
people,  had  expressed  their  abhorrence.  "But,"  he 
went  on,  more  hurriedly,  for  even  Crab's  "Hear, 
hear"  had  been  silenced,  "let  us  not  dwell  on  the  few 
errors  of  the  past.  Let  us  rather  turn  with  renewed 
and  earnest  purpose  to  the  roseate  promise  of  the  fu 
ture,  for  after  all,  are  we  not  of  the  same  blood,  the 
same  old  sturdy  root  that  has  peopled  the  world  with, 
the  sons  of  the  dominant  race,  and  carried  Chris 
tianity  and  civilization  to  the  utmost  confines  of  the 
earth  ?  Let  us  rejoice  in  our  common  heritage,  and 
let  me,  in  conclusion,  at  this  gathering  of  the  repre- 


328         Lieutenant 

tentative  soldiers  of  America,  propose  a  toast  to  the 
memory  of  the  three  really  great  Union  generals  of 
your  one  great  war — men  whose  very  names  and 
characters  prove  the  truth  of  my  proposition  that  it 
is  from  our  United  Kingdom  even  the  United  States 
must  trace  their  attributes  as  leaders.  Fill  your 
glasses,  fellow  descendants  of  a  common  stock,  and 
drink  with  me  with  three  times  three  to  Grant,  who 
sprang  from  the  heather  of  the  Highlands,  to  Sher 
man,  who  hailed  from  the  lowlands  of  the  Severn,  to 
Sheridan,  bred  from  the  banks  of  the  Shannon — all 
of  them  English." 

Then  uprose  they  all,  and  tilted  their  glasses  and 
tried  to  start  a  cheer  that,  somehow,  stuck  in  the 
^rop,  and  a  laugh  that  had  no  ring  to  it,  and  applause 
that  was  all  too  mechanical,  and  then  it  was  seen  that 
^Blake,  tallest  and  longest  of  all  about  him  was  lifting 
still  higher  his  glass  and  shouting  "Mr.  Chairman !" 
and  everybody  settled  back  to  his  seat,  leaving  Blake 
on  his  feet,  and  every  man  who  had  ever  known  him, 
or  of  him,  knew  well  that  something  was  coming,  and 
In  a  minute  it  came. 

They  who  sat  close  to  him  could  have  sworn  he  was 
trembling  from  head  to  foot,  but  never  a  tremor  was 
heard  in  his  voice,  never  a  symptom  of  wrath  or  an 
noy.  Smoothly,  placidly,  humorously,  he  began,  and 
murmurs  were  stilled  and  men  craned  their  necks  to 
look  and  listen. 

"We  have  all  been  delighted  with  the  words  and 


lieutenant  SanDg  Eap         329 

sentiments  of  our  genial  and  gifted  friend  who  has 
so  enlivened  us.  Underneath  the  mask  of  gravity, 
almost  if  not  quite  as  sepulchral  as  that  we  know  so 
well  in  the  foremost  of  our  own  talkers — our  soldier 
ambassador  to  France — our  new-found  friend  has 
concealed  a  humor  even  more  exquisite.  He  has 
launched  one  jest  after  another,  even  while  pointing 
a  moral  and  adorning  a  tale.  And  now,  in  the  same 
broad  spirit  of  comradeship  and  conviviality  that 
animated  his  reference  to  our  unschooled  methods, 
let  me  admit  without  hesitation  that  those  methods 
lack  the  comprehensiveness,  the  finish,  I  might  say, 
of  the  system  which  blew  into  smithereens,  from  the 
mouth  of  the  cannon,  their  own  particular  brand  of 
insurrectos  in  the  days  of  Bayard  Outram  and  Have- 
lock.  Let  us  admit,  too,  that  in  dealing  with  the  devil 
incarnate  we  have  much  to  learn  from  our  experi 
enced  kinsmen  of  Albion,  and  finally  let  me,  in  the 
same  sportive  and  whimsical  mood  which  inspired 
his  tribute  to  three  at  least  of  our  old-time  leaders, 
bid  you  again  to  lift  your  glasses  and  then  to  drain 
them — those  who  are  not  still  votaries  of  the  water- 
care — to  the  honor  of  the  only  three  great  generals 
Great  Britain  has  evolved  in  a  whole  century  of  wars 
— Wellesley,  Wolseley  and  'Bobs' — God  bless  him  !— 
yes,  and  we'll  count  in  Kitchener,  too;  all  four 
sprung  from  the  green  sod  of  Erin;  all  of  them — • 
Irish  !" 

And  then  went  up  a  shout  that  shook  the  walls  as 


B30         JLieutenant  San  Dp 

men  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  drank  delightedly,  and 
banged  the  table  with  unoccupied  hands,  and  clapped 
each  other  on  the  back,  the  British  sailors  leading 
everybody  in  the  excess  of  their  merriment  and  joy. 
Even  the  Fulminator,  after  a  moment  of  mental 
stupefaction,  was  on  his  feet  laughing  like  the  rest, 
and  it  was  full  five  minutes  before  the  fun  half  sub 
sided,  and  the  general  commanding  the  department 
could  slip  from  his  seat  and,  fairly  bubbling  over, 
whisper,  "Blake,  old  boy,  that's  good  for  two  months' 
leave,  and  Japan,  any  moment  you  want  to  go." 

"Make  it  transferable,  General"  said  Blake,  with 
twinkling  eyes.    "Look  at  Sandy  Eay.    He  needs  it." 


JUeittenam  SanDg  Ba?         331 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

AND  to  Sandy,  who  indeed  needed  it,  the  leave  had 
come,  with  the  recommendation  of  the  medical  direc 
tor  that  he  spend  it  in  a  sea  voyage  to  Frisco  and 
back,  rather  than  a  sojourn  in  the  land  of  cherry  blos 
soms  and  chrysanthemums — at  other  seasons  of  the 
year.  Which  was  how  he  came  to  be  aboard  the  big 
and  good  ship  Sheridan,  of  our  transport  service,  as 
she  steamed  into  Nagasaki's  deep,  long  and  narrow, 
landlocked  harbor,  and  how  and  why,  with  other  re 
turning  warriors,  he  should  be  ashore  a  day  or  two 
while  his  bark  was  off  the  seas  and  in  the  dry  dock. 
They  made  him  welcome  and  gave  him  an  airy 
dainty  room  at  the  big  hotel,  facing  the  crowded  bay, 
and  a  seat  at  table  that  commanded  a  view  of  the  en 
trance,  and  of  those  who  entered.  The  consul  had 
come  to  call  upon  the  hero  of  the  Paul-and-Virginia- 
like,  and  otherwise  romantic,  episode  of  the  so-called 
Balliwag,  and  had  planned  a  rickshaw  run  and  a 
dinner  at  the  Club.  The  quartermaster  in  charge  had 
come  to  see  him  and  talk  of  days  at  old  Camp  Sandy, 
Arizona,  where  he  had  served  with  Kay's  father,  with 
Jack  Truscott  and  "Old  Catnip"  and  Bucketts — 
days  that  young  Sandy  could  never  hear  enough  of. 


332         Lieutenant  §>anDg  Rap 

The  passenger  list  of  the  Sheridan  was  a  record 
breaker  in  one  way — it  was  the  smallest  "homeward 
bound' '  yet  known.  The  general  and  his  aides  had 
elected  the  run  by  an  "O  and  O"  liner,  via  Shanghai 
and  Yokohama  and  Honolulu.  There  were  barely 
twenty  officers,  and  less  than  a  dozen  women  and 
children.  Most  of  the  men  more  or  less  invalided 
like  himself,  and  few  of  them,  or  their  families,  peo 
ple  he  had  ever  met  before.  Yet,  unlike  him,  every 
mother's  son  and  daughter  seemed  rejoiceful  and 
happy  akbeing  once  more  en  route  for  the  home  coun 
try.  Sandy,  somehow,  cared  not  a  whit  about  going 
just  then  to  the  States.  A  run  through  the  Inland 
JSea  would  have  had  some  attraction:  a  voyage 
through  the  islands  to  the  south  would  have  had  more, 
and  if  anybody  from  the  Nippon  Maru,  just  in  from 
the  Pacific,  and  bound  across  the  China  Sea  for 
Shanghai  and  the  Hong,  had  said  the  word  "Come 
over  with  us,"  the  chances  are  that  he  would  have 
tossed  his  transport  order  over  the  rail  and  sought  a 
berth  aboard  the  liner.  Yet  what  would  that  brief 
voyage  have  profited  him  as  compared  with  the  weeks 
of  ozone  to  be  breathed  over  the  deep  blue  waves  of 
the  broad  Pacific.  As  he  sat  there  on  the  gallery, 
aloof  for  a  time  from  his  fellows,  and  gazing  out  on 
that  busy  scene,  his  eyes  rested  long  on  the  black  bulk 
of  the  Nippon  rather  than  upon  a  dozen  craft — of 
commerce  or  war — far  more  pretentious  or  formid 
able. 


JLiemenam  S>anDp  Kap         333 

"Not  once  in  all  those  weeks,  since  last  he  saw  her  in 
the  dim  light  of  their  leafy  refuge  that  day  of  the 
"Balliwag,"  had  he  exchanged  look  or  word  with  Ger 
trude  Dean,  save  in  the  way  of  messages  such  as  Aunt 
Nannie  could  transmit  To  his  father,  after  Blunt's 
startling  revelation,  he  had  spoken  of  her  earnestly 
and  much,  and  in  a  way  that  set  the  elder  soldier  to 
serious  thinking.  To  his  mother  he  had  spoken  of 
her  hardly  at  all,  the  first  essay  meeting  with  a  silence, 
or  a  lack  of  response,  or  sympathy,  or  something  that 
both  troubled  and  repelled  him.  The  story  of  his 
adventure  was  known,  of  course,  all  over  the  islands 
now,  and  never  could  Mrs.  Ray  hear  allusion  to  it 
without  wincing,  as  Mrs.  Blake  was  quick  to  see  and 
then  to  strive  to  correct.  Whatever  the  record  of  the 
father,  and  the  fault  of  the  brother,  and  the  weakness 
of  the  mother,  that  girl,  in  Aunt  Nan's  fond  and  loyal 
eyes,  stood  without  a  stain,  no  matter  what  Paloma 
had  confessed  to  doing  (though  Paloma's  confession 
to  her  young  mistress  had  been  as  yet  by  no  means  as 
complete  as  had  been  Gertrude's  compassion  and  for 
giveness — as  complete  as,  in  time,  had  been  Aunt 
Nannie's,  despite  the  doped  coffee  and  deft  pecula 
tions).  Yet  Mrs.  Blake,  with  all  her  love  for  Ger 
trude  Dean,  was  still  worldly  wise  enough  to  know 
that  neither  Colonel  Ray  nor  Marion,  his  wife  and 
her  oldest  and  stanchest  friend,  could  by  any  human 
possibility  be  expected  to  welcome  the  idea  of  Sandy's 
having  fallen  in  love  with  a  girl  of  such  unfortunate 


334         Lieutenant  SanOp  Bap 

social  connections — a  girl  with  whom  he  had  been 
thrown  in  such  peculiar  relations,  under  such  ro 
mantic,  perhaps,  but  none  the  less  positively  "uncon 
ventional"  circumstances. 

It  was  one  topic  that  became  "taboo"  between  the 
two  old  and  devoted  friends,  these  two  army  wives, 
during  their  brief  sojourn  in  Manila — about  as  un 
happy  a  fortnight  as  Aunt  Nan  had  known  in  many  a 
year.  Even  the  most  intimate  and  loving  of  femi 
nine  friends  are  often  keenly  alive  to  each  other's 
failings.  Mrs.  Hay's  girlhood  had  been  spent  in  far 
Eastern  society  wherein  there  was  much  that  was 
artificial.  Mrs.  Blake's  earlier  years  had  been  lived 
in  a  far  Western  ranch,  in  the  free  air  of  Wyoming, 
whereby  she  was  ever  in  close  touch  with  nature. 
Through  quarter  of  a  century  of  army  life  they  had 
been  dear  to  each  other  as  two  fond  sisters,  yet  there 
were  matters  concerning  which  they  differed,  as  sis 
ters  will,  and  one  of  these  was  what  was  due  to  public 
opinion.  Nannie  Blake  would  have  it  that  Marion 
Ray  gave  to  it  too  much  heed — was  too  conventional, 
and  now  here  came  a  crowning  example.  Just  one 
clash  had  there  occurred,  though  not  until  another 
l  year  would  either  admit  or  allude  to  it. 

"It  is  easy  for  a  girl  to  follow  suit,"  declared  Mrs. 
Nan,  "whose  people  are  all  that  is  correct  and 
proper.  Here  is  a  girl  who  is  a  lady  in  spite  of — 
everything." 

"Do  ladies  follow  suit — and  men — as  she  did?" 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Bap         335 


asked  Mrs.  Marion,  with  averted  eyes  and  acidulous 
tongue. 

"As  she  did,  and  as  I  did,  Marion,  when  it  was  to 
save  a  father  !  This  girl  not  only  suffered  to  save  her 
father's  name,  and  her  brother's  ;  she  suffered  in  sav 
ing  your  boy's  life." 

"]\To  more  than  he  did,  first,  in  saving  hers.  Just 
see  him  now  !" 

The  implied  reproach  was  hard  to  bear,  but  the 
superior  will  showed  in  the  self-control  of  the  final 
words  : 

"You  would  have  sent  him,  yourself,  as  I  did, 
Marion,  had  you  been  there."  Wisely,  then,  the  last 
speaker  left  the  room,  and  dropped  the  subject  ;  argu 
ment  with  angering  woman,  even  a  sister,  being 
worse  than  useless. 

2Tot  a  word  of  this,  of  course,  had  come  to  Sandy 
Ray,  but  he  knew  and  read  his  mother,  even  as  he 
loved  her,  and  her  silence  as  to  Gertrude  Dean  was 
more  than  significant.  It  told  him  the  topic  could  be 
no  more  unwelcome  than  the  girl.  He  had  written. 
three  letters  to  Gertrude,  before  that  startling  inter 
view  with  Blunt,  and  had  torn  each  to  fragments  as 
utterly  inadequate.  Letter  writing  was  not  his  forte, 
he  ruefully  said,  and  now  as  he  sat  here,  solus,  on 
the  breezy  gallery,  he  was  wondering  if  he  could  not 
do  better,  and  send  it  with  some  pretty  trifle  from 
Nagasaki's  alluring  shops,  and  find  perhaps  an  an- 


336         Lieutenant  SanDg  Bap 

swer  here  on  his  return.  The  Nippon  would  not  sail 
for  hours  yet.  By  Jove,  he'd  try  it ! 

He  did,  and  struggled  manfully,  which  is  to  say 
clumsily,  and  came  forth  two  hours  later  with  the 
finished  product  buttoned  within  his  breast  pocket 
Another  liner  had  come  in,  and  was  anchored  within 
easy  hailing  distance  of  the  Nippon,  a  sister  liner 
probably,  for  sampans  and  small  boats  were  busily 
plying  between  them ;  some  of  them,  too,  sculling  for 
shore.  The  evening  air  was  growing  chill  and  he 
threw  his  cavalry  cape  over  his  shoulders  and  went 
forth  upon  the  street.  The  manager,  escorting  two 
ladies  in  black  and  wearing  mourning  veils,  was  com 
ing  up  from  the  landing,  the  boatman  following  with 
hand  luggage  and  the  like.  The  rickshaw  men  were 
eagerly  eyeing  Sandy,  hopeful  of  a  fare,  and  Ray 
was  speedily  jogged  away  to  the  heart  of  the  bustling, 
fascinating  city. 

Two  hours  later,  one  of  the  first  to  enter  the  din 
ing  room,  he  was  at  his  seat,  refreshed  by  the  air,  a 
bath  and  the  satisfaction  so  many  officers  seem  to 
feel  in  getting  into  "cits,"  this  despite  the  fact  that 
few  of  them  look  half  as  well,  and  Ray,  in  broad 
white  shirt  front  and  black  dinner  coat,  was  no  ex 
ception.  But  both  he  and  an  artillery  comrade,  simi 
larly  garbed,  were  of  quite  the  opposite  way  of  think 
ing,  and  rather  commiserated  such  of  their  fellows  as 
entered  in  olive  drab  or  even  dress.  Dinner  was  half 
over,  and  the  gunner  in  full  flow  of  conversation 


JLieutenant  §>anDp  Kap         337 

•when  he  became  suddenly  aware  of  the  fact  that  Ray 
had  neither  eyes  nor  ears  for  him  and,  following  the 
astonished  gaze  in  the  latter's  eyes,  the  speaker 
turned  to  the  doorway.  The  manager  himself  was 
escorting  two  ladies  to  their  seats,  one  of  them  a  sad- 
faced  gentlewoman,  obviously  the  mother  of  the  tall, 
slender  and  beautiful  girl  who  followed;  one  in  the 
widow's  cap,  both  in  deep  mourning.  A  moment 
more  and  Sandy  Ray  had  sprung  from  his  chair, 
hastened  half  way  across  the  broad  and  airy  room 
and  was  bending  over  them — his  eyes  beaming.  The 
elder  looked  up  startled.  The  younger  gave  one 
quick  glance.  A  wave  of  beautiful  color  swept  to 
her  forehead,  then  seemed  to  slowly  fade  from  tern- 
pie,  cheek  and  even  the  parted  lips.  Her  hand,  me 
chanically,  had  gone  out  to  meet  his,  but  was  with 
drawn  and  dropped.  The  sudden,  unexpected  meet- 
ing  that  had  begun  in  such  evident  emotion  on  part 
of  all  three,  seemed  closing  in  constraint.  A  few 
words,  that  seemed  to  grow  formal,  were  spoken  by 
the  elder  woman,  the  girl  listening  with  white, 
averted  face.  Ray  stood  one  moment  in  stupefaction, 
then  bowed  stiffly,  turned  and  came  back  to  his  place, 
but  neither  ate,  drank  nor  talked.  Lamely  excusing 
himself  he  presently  arose,  left  the  table  and  the 
room. 

That  evening  he  sent  his  card  to  the  ladies,  Rooms 
41-43,  and  the  answer  came  that  both  were  indisposed 
and  about  retiring.  Next  morning  there  were  two 


338         Lieutenant 

letters  at  his  plate.  A  mail  had  come  up  from  Ma 
nila  forty-eight  hours  after  the  Sheridan.  One  was 
postmarked  Dagupan,  addressed  Lieutenant  Sanford 
Kay,  — d  Cavalry,  Care  Division  of  the  Philippines, 
Manila.  It  had  been  re-addressed  "U.  S.  Transport 
Sheridan,  Nagasaki."  He  tore  it  open  and  found  it 
-came  from  Prince,  written  from  camp  on  Benguet 
Road.  It  had  lots  to  say  about  Walker,  more  evi 
dence  direct,  against  him,  and  the  relief  they  all  felt 
in  his  self -ended  career.  It  told  of  Walker's  connec 
tion  with  the  smugglers,  and  their  allies,  the  la- 
drones.  "They  would  have  killed  him  sooner  or  later 
for  his  double-faced  treachery."  But  Ray  hardly- 
read,  for,  on  the  fourth  closely  written  page,  he  had 
seen  her  name  and  eagerly  skipped  to  that ;  and  there 
were  these  words  underscored : 

"So  I  hope  to  God  you  never  gave,  and  she  never 
•saw,  the  little  packet  I  sent  by  you !" 

Little  packet  ?  Why,  of  course !  Ray  recalled  it 
well.  He  had  taken  it  on  the  sail  to  Bato,  meaning  to 
give  it  that  night  But  whatever  became  of  it  \  More 
than  half  of  his  few  belongings  he  had  never  seen  or 
heard  of  since  the  moment  he  had  been  felled  there  in 
the  darkness.  But  why  should  Prince  so  hope  and 
pray  that  Gertrude  Dean  had  never  seen  it?  He 
found  the  reason  soon  enough,  and  left  his  breakfast 
untouched : 

"After  hearing  the  full  story  of  how  that  brave 
girl  made  her  escape,  taking  you  with  her  and  sav- 


Lieutenant  §>anBp  Eap         33^ 

ing  your  life,  I  could  kick  myself,  were  it  anatomi 
cally  possible,  for  the  brutal  letter  I  wrote  her  in 
sending  back  what  I  then  thought  was  evidence  of  her 
intimacy  with — him — at  Boutelle."  (Sandy's  cheeks 
were  burning  now,  though  but  a  moment  earlier  they 
were  so  pale.)  "Of  course  at  that  time  I  had  no  real 
knowledge  of  affairs  at  Sulpicio — her  father's  and 
Harry's — and  never  dreamed  that  it  was  for  their 
names'  sake  she  so  risked  her  own.  And  when  L 
found  that  she  had  actually  been  there  to  his  quar 
ters — found  her  little  foot  tracks  in  the  sand,  and 
that  filmy  little  handkerchief  at  the  very  doorstep,  I 
wrote  the  fool  letter  that  was  enclosed  in  the  packet — • 
told  her  that  a  girl  like  her  had  no  right  to  the  trust 
and  the  sanctuary  of  a  woman  like  Mrs.  Blake,  and 

the  sooner  she  took  herself  away  from  the  post " 

But  Sandy  could  read  no  more.  With  a  barely  stifled 
cry  of  wrath  and  misery,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  ran 
up  to  his  room  and  hurled  the  offending  missive 
against  the  wall. 

The  consul  came  to  take  him  a  day's  pleasuring, 
across  the  beautiful  hills,  and  he  amazed  that  official 
by  begging  off.  Eriends  had  come,  he  said,  whom  he 
must  see — friends,  as  he  knew  by  that  time  who  re 
fused  to  see  him.  Mrs.  Dean  had  almost  said  so  in 
response  to  the  penciled  words  upon  his  card.  They 
were  breakfasting  in  their  room  and  begged  to  be 
excused.  It  must  be  that  that  miserable  packet  had 
found  its  way  to  her  while  she  was  nursing  Paloma 


340         Lieutenant  §>anDp 

at  Bato.  It  must  be  that  she  had  coupled  this  witK 
the  recollection  of  the  constraint  and  aversion  with 
which  he  had  at  first  seen  fit  to  treat  her,  and  the 
two  were  enough  to  steel  any  girl's  heart  against  him. 
At  noon  he  went  in  search  of  Colonel  Skinner,  and 
the  colonel  had  gone  with  the  consul's  party;  but  an 
assistant  told  him  the  Sheridan  would  be  floated 
again  by  sunset  and  would  sail  at  dawn.  He  had  to 
eat  something  at  tifiin,  and  then  betook  himself  to  his 
room,  and  for  two  hours  wrote,  wrote,  wrote  to  her, 
then  sealed  and  sent  it,  begging  that  Miss  Dean 
would  read  and  then  favor  him  with  a  reply.  The 
answer,  brought  by  a  lady's  maid,  was  from  Mrs. 
Dean  to  the  effect  that  her  daughter  at  least  was 
sleeping  and  should  not  be  disturbed.  At  4  there 
came  one  of  the  Sheridan's  officers  to  say  that  all  pas 
sengers  should  be  aboard  that  night,  adding,  with  sig 
nificant  smile,  "Two  friends  of  yours  go  with  us,  Mr. 
Hay.  The  quartermaster  got  the  order  this  morn 
ing,  'because  of  Miss  Dean's  valued  services/  it 
read." 

Then  Sandy  thanked  God.  Once  aboard  the  Sheri 
dan  there  must  come  opportunity  to  speak  with  her, 
and  until  nine  o'clock  his  heart  was  lighter,  even 
though  neither  mother  nor  daughter  left  her  room. 
Then  came  Colonel  Skinner,  the  quartermaster  re 
ferred  to,  just  to  say  bon  voyage  to  Sandy,  and  then 
to  send  his  spirits  down  to  zero  with  "I  thought  I'd 
have  a  pleasant  piece  of  news  to  confirm,  but — there's 


Lieutenant  ^anDp  mag         341 

something  queer  about  it — Mrs.  Dean  sends  the  word 

they've  decided  to  stop  over." 

"Then,  by  the  Lord,"  said  Sandy,  "so  have  I !" 
And  that  was  the  news  that  went  back  to  Zam- 

"boanga  and  Boutelle. 

•*        •*        *        *        *        #        *        •*        -x-        * 

But  it  was  by  no  means  all,  for  the  Blakes,  at  least> 
had  received  advices  from  Shanghai  that  measurably 
prepared  them.  Other  letters,  later  letters,  had  come 
from  Gertrude,  full  of  affection  for  Aunt  Nannie  and 
of  anxiety  for  her  father.  He  had  never  really  ral 
lied  from  the  prostration  at  Boutelle.  His  trouble 
had  been  aggravated  by  bodily  exposure  and  mental 
distress.  He  had  been  all  too  easily  led  into  evil 
courses,  both  at  Manila  and  Sulpicio,  through  blindly 
trusting  subordinates,  he  said,  who  had  been  thrust 
upon  him  by  superiors.  "He  had  hoped  and  expected, 
to  meet  the  revenue  officers  and  to  put  them  in  pos 
session  of  all  the  facts  in  the  case."  Possibly  this 
became  known  to  his  confederates  and  was  the  real 
cause  of  the  sudden,  if  temporary,  wealth  that  enabled 
him  to  flit  expensively  to  refuge  in  Chinese  territory, 
and  then  to  send  for  his  family.  Once  there,  how 
ever,  his  friends  and  funds  both  began  to  fail  him, 
and  his  strength  to  follow  suit.  Dean  was  a  doomed 
man  when  he  set  foot  in  Shanghai,  and  all  the  devoted 
nursing  of  his  wife  and  daughter  could  not  -save  him. 
In  their  extremity  the  long  alienated  brother  had 
come  to  their  aid.  Then  Dean  slipped  peacefully 


342         Lieutenant  %anDp  Bap 

into  the  long  night,  and  the  cabled  tidings  brought 
cabled  answer,  and  ample  funds  from  America.  The 
one  thing  that  so  long  had  stood  between  the  brother 
and  sister  had  vanished,  and  the  mother  and  daugh 
ter  were  summoned  home. 

But  not  once  did  Gertrude  mention  Sandy  Ray, 
though  she  had  much  to  say  of  Paloma — Paloma  who 
had  been  her  faithful  and  devoted  slave — Paloma  for 
"whom  she  had  so  much  to  plead  in  extenuation — 
Paloma  who  had  no  idea  how,  in  serving  her  young 
mistress,  she  had  sinned  against  so  many.  Paloma 
was  to  wed  her  Pedro  and  be  happy  ever  after,  but 
Gertrude  begged  of  Aunt  Nannie  that  she  would  try 
to  forgive  her  for  the  sake  of  what  the  girl  had  really 
accomplished,  and  to  find  out,  for  Gertrude  as  yet 
could  only  guess,  what  money  had  been  stolen  that 
could  be  laid  at  Paloma' s  door,  and  from  whom.  And 
Gertrude  sent  a  draft  for  twenty  pounds  sterling  to 
cover  what  she  knew  of  Paloma's  peculations,  and 
with  affection  and  regard  unutterable  and  assur 
ances  that  never,  never,  never  could  she  forget  Aunt 
Dannie's  loving  kindness,  subscribed  herself,  devot 
edly  her  fond  and  grateful  friend. 

A  contrast  to  this  impulsive,  even  warm-hearted, 
letter  was  Mrs.  Dean's  stately  missive,  written  when, 
in  spite  of  the  cloud  of  her  recent  bereavement,  she 
could  not  leave  these  shores  without  at  least  an  at 
tempt  to  express  her  gratitude  to  Mrs.  Blake.  In 
more  tangible  form  she  begged  Mrs.  Blake's  accept- 


Lieutenant  Sana?  Bag         343 

ance  of  the  trifles  she  had  ordered  sent  from  Naga 
saki  (they  were  still  in  the  custom  house  at  Ma 
nila  at  last  accounts,  held  up  by  a  ruinously  pro 
hibitive  tariff)  which  souvenirs  she  trusted  would 
serve  sometimes  to  assure  Mrs.  Blake  of  her  own 
and  her  daughter's  appreciation  of  Mrs.  Blake's  hos 
pitality  in  their  hour  of  distress.  Mrs.  Dean  wished 
most  properly  that  she  could  feel  for  every  one  at 
Camp  Boutelle  the  sentiments  expressed  toward  Mrs. 
Blake,  but  this  unfortunately  could  never  be.  The 
utterly  unjust  attitude,  assumed  by  so  many  officers 
toward  her  beloved  and  misjudged  husband,  "now, 
alas,  at  last  gone  to  his  reward"  ("Gertrude  never 
saw  this  letter,"  says  Madam  Nan,  with  heightened 
color,  to  her  chuckling  liege)  precluded  the  possibility 
of  her  forgiveness.  There  was  very  much  on  this 
head  and  in  this  strain  which  need  not  be  enumerated. 
But  then  came  the  paragraph  at  which  Mistress  Blake 
gasped  in  dismay;  then  turned  in  amaze  upon  her 
husband. 

"And  if  that  were  not  more  than  enough,  the  in 
sult  conveyed  to  my  innocent  child,  who  periled  her 
life  to  save  that  of  your  especial  protege  among  the 
officers — the  vile  insinuation  in  the  note  sent  by  Mr. 
Prince,  with  her  handkerchief  and  scarf,  has  capped 
the  climax.  That  Mr.  Ray  should  have  taken  upon 
himself  the  duty  of  conveying  it  to  her  was  proved 
by  its  being  found  in  his  bag  at  Bato,  and  I  thank 
.heaven  they  brought  it  to  me  and  not  to  her.  Of 


Lieutenant  SanDp  Bap 

the  nature  of  its  contents  I  have  felt  it  my  duty  to 
acquaint  her,  and  the  shock  she  sustained  is  some 
thing  I  wish  she  might  have  been  spared."  (How 
many  another  do  we  not  know,  equally  pious  and  re 
joicing  in  rectitude,  who  so  wishes  the  loved  one 
might  be  spared  this  or  that  undeserved  pang,  yet 
cannot  deny  her  or  himself  the  mournful  luxury  of 
inflicting  it.)  "It  will  be  years,"  continued  Mrs. 
Dean,  "before  she  even  partially  recovers." 

"The — the — oh,  my  Aunt  Maria's  tabby  cat!" 
wailed  the  colonel.  "Go  on,  Nan !" 

"Go  on!"  cried  Mrs.  Nan,  her  cheeks  ablaze. 
"What  on  earth  did  Prince  write  and  Eay  carry?" 
And,  when  she  was  told,  an  hour  was  given  over  to 
wrath,  then  three  hours,  and  whole  sheets  of  paper, 
to  letter  writing.  The  missive  that  went  to  Gertrude 
that  night  by  way  of  Dagupan,  Manila  and  the  care 
of  Colonel  Skinner,  U.  S.  Quartermaster,  Nagasaki, 
was  what  Blake  called  a  hummer,  and  it  got  there 
just  in  time. 

The  Sheridan  slipped  away  in  the  mists  of  early 
morning,  minus  one  of  the  original  passenger  list  and 
two  of  the  supplementary.  Sandy  Ray  had  slept  but 
little  that  night.  Letters  had  been  brought  in  late; 
some  taken  upstairs,  some  few  handed  to  him.  His 
luggage  had  come  off  at  eleven  and  been  sent  to  his 
room.  He  had  written  a  page  or  two,  tried  bath  and 
bed,  but  was  up,  restless  and  troubled,  at  four  in  the 
morning,  and  out  on  the  sea  wall  in  the  dim  light  of 


Lieutenant  Sana?  map         345 

dawn.  He  watched  the  big  white  steamer,  with  the 
electrics  still  sparkling,  as  she  swung  her  head 
slowly  to  the  south,  and  bored  silently  through  the 
flotilla  at  anchor ;  then  hied  him  within  doors  and  up 
to  the  second  floor  and  out  on  the  broad  veranda  for 
one  final  peep. 

And  there  at  the  farther  corner,  all  alone,  leaning 
against  the  pillar  and  only  dimly  visible,  stood  a  slen 
der  form  he  knew  at  a  glance.  One  moment  he 
halted,  uncertain,  then  up  and  back  went  the  curly 
dark  head,  and  on  tiptoe  again,  half  ashamed,  all  de 
termined,  he  bore  swiftly  down  upon  her  and  found 
her  sobbing  her  heart  out,  her  streaming  eyes  fixed 
on  that  fast-fading  transport.  Then,  when  with  a 
low  cry  she  whirled  upon  him  at  sound  of  her  name, 
his  arms  barred  her  escape.  He  would  neither  stand 
aside  nor  let  her  go,  nor,  for  the  moment,  let  her 
speak.  He  held  the  floor — and  Gertrude — and  he 
felt  his  strength  returning. 

And  he  needed  it,  for  Gertrude  Dean  was  no  weak 
ling,  mental  or  physical.  He  realized  that  the  day 
the  shots  came  crashing  through  their  shelter  on  the 
Balaoag,  and  she  laid  her  white  hands  on  his  shoul 
der  and  bore  him  down.  K"ow  she  braced  both  those 
slender  hands  against  his  shoulders,  thrusting  herself 
far  as  possible  from  his  bounding  heart,  with  her 
head  thrown  back  and  her  eyes  jetting  blue  blazes  at 
him — the  sweet,  soft  eyes  whose  fires  but  the  mo 
ment  before  seemed  drowned  in  the  flood  of  their 


346         Lieutenant  San  Dp  Hap 

> 

tears.  " You  shall  not !  You  dare  not !  If  you're  a 
man  you'll  let  me  go!"  she  managed  to  make  him 
hear  through  the  torrent  of  his  own  protestations. 

"It's  because  I  am  a  man  I  won't  let  you  go !  Hear 
me  you  must  and  shall!  You've  dodged  me  every 
way  until  I  caught  you  here." 

"I  thought  you  were  gone  with " 

"I  Icnow  you  did!  and  were  crying  your  eyes 
out " 

"Oh !  Of  all  the  infamous  things !  Mr.  Kay,  you 
hurt  me!" 

"I  don't.  You're  hurting  yourself  with  your — 
furious — struggles."  For  they  were  indeed  furious, 
and  futile.  In  the  vernacular  of  the  game  he  loved, 
and  had  once  excelled  in,  she  was  tackled  and  thrown 
back  for  a  loss,  at  the  corner  pillar  again,  and  there 
•was  no  referee  on  the  spot  to  penalize  Ray  for  hold 
ing  in  the  line.  Finding  it  impossible  to  break  his 
hold,  she  fell  back  for  a  parley. 

"If  I  promise  to  listen — two  minutes — will  you 
let  go?" 

"For  two  minutes,  yes."  But  his  arm  never 
yielded. 

"I'm — listening,"  she  panted,  presently,  her  red 
lips  parted  now,  her  white  teeth  gleaming,  but  not  in 
smiles ;  her  bosom  heaving,  not  all  in  wrath. 

"I'm — out  of  breath,"  said  Sandy. 

"Why  aren't  you  on  the  Sheridan  ?"  said  she. 

"Because  you're  not,"  said  he. 


Lieutenant  San  Dp  dap 

"Now,  listen/'  she  began  again,  presently.  "I 
don't  want  you  to  tell  me — what  you  were  going  to." 

"You've  known  it — all  along." 

"I  haven  t!  But,  we're  not  at  all — suited  to  each 
other." 

"Speak  for  yourself,  please,"  he  began,  confidently, 
then  finished  half  ruefully,  "I  know  I'm — a  runt." 
Indeed,  her  bonny  head  was  held  at  the  moment 
almost  on  a  plane  with  his  own.  What  was  medium 
height  for  a  trooper  was  tall  for  a  girl. 

"It  isn't  that — at  all,"  she  said,  promptly,  so  earn 
est  in  her  argument  she  forgot  about  the  arm,  or  pos 
sibly  it  was  only  he.  "Honestly  though,"  and  then 
the  fires  were  but  smouldering  again,  and  speedily 
the  eyes  were  once  more  welling  over.  "It  would 
never  do.  I  know  your  father  and  mother." 

"I  know — yours/'  blundered  Sandy,  "and  if " 

But  the  next  was  drowned  in  an  impetuous  rush, 
and  indignant  burst  of  tears.  Breaking  away  from 
him  she  ran  to  the  long  Venetian  window  opening 
upon  the  gallery,  and  beyond  that  he  could  not  pur 
sue. 

Not  until  the  day  of  the  Doric's  sailing  did  he  see 
her  again,  and  then  only  for  a  moment,  against  her 
prohibition,  yet  when  she  read  the  woe  in  his  face 
and  the  havoc  the  week  had  played,  her  brave  heart 
melted  and — I  don't  know  just  what  happened.  In 
six  days  Sandy  Eay  was  back  in  Manila,  waiting 
transport  for  Zamboangua.  In  six  weeks  he  was  back 


348         Lieutenant  San  Dp  iftag 

again  in  Manila,  posting — registered,  mind  you — a 
letter  to  the  Hon.  Horace  !N".  Stetson,  Call  Building, 
San  Francisco,  California,  which  in  addition  to  an 
/old-fashioned  and  punctilious  letter  to  that  distin 
guished  man  of  affairs,  contained  other  missives, 
quite  as  convincing,  addressed  in  the  hand  of  Marion 
Ray,  to  Mrs.  Amos  Dean  and  to  Miss  Gertrude  Dean. 
Even  then  something  must  have  been  lacking,  for  in 
April  the  society  columns  of  the  San  Francisco  pa 
pers  were  having  much  to  say  of  Colonel  and  Mrs. 
Gerard  Stuyvesant  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Stuyvesant, 
as  was  well  remembered,  was  the  lovely  daughter  of 
Captain  (now  colonel)  W.  P.  Ray,  of  the  Cavalry,  so 
long  and  favorably  known  in  civil  and  military  cir 
cles  of  the  Pacific  coast.  And  while  their  coming 
had  been  the  signal  for  a  round  of  brilliant  enter 
tainments  it  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of  the  argus- 
eyed  society  reporters  that  "they  were  frequently  to 
be  seen  at  the  palatial  new  residence  of  the  Honor 
able  H.  !N".  Stetson,  whose  sister  and  niece  had  but 
recently  returned  from  the  Orient,  in  deep  mourn 
ing,  which  precluded  the  possibility  of  their  appear 
ing  much  in  public."  What  else  was  lacking  must 
have  been  supplied  in  letters  from  Camp  Boutelle, 
for  at  least  one  very  soft  summer  evening  Lieutenant 
Sanford  Ray  was  caught  in  the  act  of  kissing  his 
colonel's  wife,  the  lady  tearfully  and  rapturously  re 
turning  the  caress,  the  aggrieved  husband  standing 


Lieutenant  SanOg  Bap         349 

shamelessly  by  and  applauding  the  performance. 
"Aunt  ISTan — Aunt  Nan!"  the  young  trooper  was 
declaring,  "I  could  never  have  won  her — but  for 
you!" 


THE  END. 


THE   POPULAR   NOVELS  OF 

A.  w.  MARCHMONT 

NOW    OFFERED   IN     HANDSOMELY    MADE 
CLOTH  BOUND  EDITIONS  AT  LOW  PRICES 


writers  of  recent  years  have  achieved  such  a  wida 
popularity  in  this  particular  field  as  has  Mr.  Marchmont. 
For  rattling  good  stories  of  love,  intrigue,  adventure, 
plots  and  counter-plots,  we  know  of  nothing  better,  and 
to  the  reader  who  has  become  surfeited  with  the  analyti 
cal  and  so-called  historical  novels  of  the  day,  we  heartily 
sommend  them.  There  is  life,  mcprement,  animation, 
on  every  page,  and  for  a  tedious  railway  journey  or  a 
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